We are delighted to have taken delivery of eight new sets of Concept2 blades for our junior rowing squad, thanks to the generous support of the Rowing Foundation.

The Rowing Foundation awarded the club a grant of £2,282, providing 50% of the funding needed to purchase the new blades. This support has allowed us to invest in high-quality equipment that will benefit our growing junior section for many years to come.

Established in 1980, the Rowing Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to helping get more young people on the water. It provides grants towards boats, blades and equipment for junior and student rowing programmes across the UK, as well as supporting adaptive rowing opportunities. Its equipment grants provide match funding towards eligible purchases, helping clubs such as ours make important improvements to their fleets.

The new blades will be prioritised for use by our juniors during their regular Sunday session, but they will be available for all club members to enjoy at other times.

Alongside this investment, we are also working to extend the life of our existing equipment. A number of our older blades are being refurbished with new grips and collars, with some fresh paint planned to complete their transformation.

A special thank you must go to Graham Major, who successfully applied for the grant and has also been busy painting the new blades in the club colours. His time and effort have helped make this investment possible and ensured the blades look every bit as good as they perform.

A huge thank you to the Rowing Foundation for supporting junior rowing at John O’Gaunt Rowing Club and helping us provide the best possible equipment for the next generation of rowers.

Happy rowing!