Barn Elms Boathouse
Testimonials
Katherine Jarman, 47 - reborn rower
"As a rower in the 1980s and 90s, I had rowed past the Barn Elms boathouse at the end of Putney Embankment hundreds of times but I had no idea they ran any courses for adults. A former rowing friend of mine, who also hadn't rowed since the early 90s, told me that she was doing a 10 week sculling course at Barn Elms with a fellow mother from her children's school, and persuaded me to come down."
"Four years later, I am completely hooked. Helen and I took part in the huge Scullers' Head last November, where 500 single scullers from all over the country race each other over the Boat Race course in reverse; we're about to do it again in a few weeks' time! All this in someone who had had any exercise whatsoever in the 13 year period away from rowing. At the age of 47, I was racing people who were less than half my age this summer.
"The staffs of the boathouse are incredibly friendly, the coaching is excellent, and it's on one of the most beautiful parts of the Thames . I now belong to a rowing club as well, and am regularly asked by the members there why on earth I carry on paying to scull at Barn Elms when I can take a boat out as often as I want to at our club - to which my answer is always that I can't imagine I'll ever give it up, as it's such good fun there!"
Florence Smart, 15 - current junior rower
"At the courses and sessions there is a great opportunity to meet new people of the same age and ability as well as learning from those who are more experienced.
"Barn Elms is a great place for all ages to learn to row, learn new techniques or take rowing that bit further."
Clare Meehan, 16 - former junior rower
"Barn Elms opened up so many opportunities for me and I owe them everything. They coached me from knowing nothing and gave me support throughout all my training from year 9-11. Barn elms encouraged me to trial for the only rowing academy in England and in result I got a scholarship to it. I could not be more grateful for the amazing work Barn elms has done they've become like family to me and I'll never forget them!"
