Newcastle North MP, Catherine McKinnell, joined Tyne Rowing Club members this weekend to hear more about their
development plans.
Catherine visited the Newburn-based club as it held the Rutherford Head on Saturday (30th November) – its final event of the year, which is raced over approximately 5,000m from Scotswood to Newburn. This year’s Rutherford Head saw a record entry of 250 crews, who were briefly interrupted by the sight of a seal popping up by the clubhouse to eat a salmon.
Founded in 1852 and one of the oldest sporting clubs in the country, Tyne Rowing Club is fortunate to be located beside the longest and best stretch of river for rowing in the North of England. However, the club’s current facilities are inadequate for the ever-increasing number of local people interested in taking up the sport, and Tyne Rowing Club has therefore recently applied for funding from Sport England’s Improvement Fund – a bid to which Catherine has added her support.
Catherine said:
“Getting more people across the city interested in rowing is something I’m really keen to encourage, particularly as we have one of the best stretches of river right here on our doorstep.
“Tyne Rowing Club are working really hard to get people in Newcastle, especially children and young people, to consider taking up the sport – which I know many still think is for a privileged few. This really isn’t the case and I’d encourage anyone wanting to get involved to get in touch with the club to find out more.”
Chairman of the Club, Simon Dobson, said:
“Tyne Rowing Club was delighted to have our local MP join us on Saturday and show support in our efforts.
“Rowing is a sport for all ages, genders, abilities and backgrounds; even seals participate in their own way. We are determined to cater for the influx of applicants resulting from the Olympic legacy and a redeveloped clubhouse will help us do that.”