Credit: Hong Kong Rowing Association
Most of us have become comfortable with the space in sport that rowing occupies: simply, a strength endurance sport that as a commentator once put it “people only really think about during the olympics… like horse riding”. Perhaps though, there are more parallels between our sport, and jockeys and dressage; not least in the often unseen eclecticism of rowing as a wider activity.
In this mini-series Hidden Oars the JRN opinions team will be delving into the variety of rowing from around the globe, and with stories lined up from Cornish Coastlines to Chinese Dragons you can be sure of a good read…
It is thought that rowing in the form we know it today was first experienced by Londoners in the 18th and 19th Centuries, with professional Taxi-men on the Thames racing one another to transport their guests across the river. As time progressed, these races became more formalised; the oldest such race that exists today is the Doggett’s Coat and Badge race that still races annually. Rowing, however, has a much longer and more profound history, likely being as essential part of human advancement since Ancient Egypt and the times of the King Tut.
Despite its ancient roots, it seems Coastal Rowing is only looking forwards…
In fact, at the start of the month hundreds of rowers descended on the politically vibrant island of Hong Kong to compete in the World Rowing Coastal Championships (WRCC) with this event being the first time the WRCC was held on the Asian continent, signifying a milestone in developing the sport within the region.
Coastal rowing has generally seen a huge increase in popularity in recent years; likely for a number of reasons. Firstly, its relative ease to learn and practice; this is not to say the sport is by any means easy – in fact quite the opposite – however, the stability and simplicity provided by the coastal boats means that compared to the effort needed to simply stay upright in a fine racing shell, coastal rowing provides a solid first step for novice oarsmen.
Secondly, as is demonstrated by the rankings at WRCC’19, coastal rowing can be a more effective solution to countries that either do not invest heavily in sport, or have more oceans than rivers. For example, countries relatively unheard of on the international circuit were able to make the A finals in Hong Kong, such as Cyprus, Mongolia, Hong Kong and the Philippines.
Finally, coastal rowing in all its forms offers a sense of community and belonging that is all too often missing from the national teams of the globe. An example is the St. Mawes gig club, nestled in a sleepy town on the Roseland Peninsula.
Early on a bright summer’s morning, the club’s members gather at the boathouse – the old petrol station – to wheel the gigs down the narrow road, towards the sea. Once there, groups of six rowers make their way out into the wider harbour, bobbing between moored boats and looking back at the picturesque holiday town, dotted with colourful houses and traditional pubs. They return to the occasional early-rising tourist taking a snap or two for the holiday album: all in all a rather stark contrast to the rowing most of us experience when we make our way to the boathouse. Often, we squeeze in a session where we can, perhaps cycling on the morning commute rather than jumping on a tube, making rowing more of a chore, than the joy it should be.
This is not to say that the sport that most of us are familiar with is in any way negative: on the contrary we are not only one of the most physically and mentally beneficial sports, but also an icon of British sporting heritage that will last generations. But maybe those of us who fall into the boathouse every day, grow tired of its rigidity and monotony.
It seems that recently there has been a stagnation in the number of people in the sport not for competitive reasons, simply to enjoy the artistic beauty of boat on water. So as we head into an Olympic year where stories of glory, underpinned by years of training will dominate the headlines, we should reflect on how rowing’s diverse accessibility can be used to create a community of sporting heroes for reasons not of gold and glory, but happiness and contentment.
Enjoyed our first look at Hidden Oars: the stories of rowing in all its forms from around the globe? Best sure to keep an eye out for more stories from across the sport in the coming weeks…
Can’t wait? Neither can we. But whilst we work to produce more content, why not check out our other Opinions articles here, or take a look ahead at our race previews here!
Ed Evans
Opinions Editor
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