Bala SC to support Welsh Rowing with a 2026 pilot initiative

Published 13:49 on 25 Mar 2026

To all members, I bet you are wondering why there is a picture of a rower as we are a sailing club?

Well as hopefully you are aware, for many years we have been developing the club in line with the RYA strategy of getting people out on the water and have had a gradual increase in SUP members. Alongside this we have a gradually increasing boat fishing community and a small but growing handful of windsurfers and Kayaks. For small volunteer ran clubs like ourselves we have to continually look for opportunities to diversify and adapt without loosing the heart of our identity as a sailing club!

Last year we were approached by Welsh Rowing who were referred to us by ENP, with a view of setting up a feeder training capability for the local schools, the aim was to get young people into rowing and provide a friendly and vibrant club where they could thrive. Whilst we could provide the friendly vibrant club, we agreed that we lacked the knowledge and passion of rowing and therefore if we did pursue it, it was highly likely to fail and we did not want that. Earlier this year Welsh Rowing approached us again with an alternate model which we have agreed in the form of a 3 year strategy document and have also agreed a pilot with ENP which will be reviewed at the end of the year.

The strategy is as follows:

1) Welsh Rowing outreach into local schools and offer gym based rowing coaching using Erg/Static Rowing Machines

2) Welsh Rowing then offer a 1 hour taster "out on the water" at Bala SC. They will be the organising body, we are purely proving the facilities

3) Welsh Rowing then offer a full day "Learn to Row" course similar to our Learn to Sail. Once again Welsh Rowing will be the organising body BUT Bala SC will administer the course and take the fees as income for ourselves

4) Those young people who pass the Learn to Row can then join Bala SC under a new category of Rowing Membership which once again will provide additional income for the club

Welsh Rowing are also proving a loan of 6 singles to allow people to get out on the water. They are also happy to develop our own adult members to become rowing coaches should anyone like to learn this sport and support the club developing this offering.

This development has taken a lot of work and consultation with both the committee and ENP which is why we are classing it as a trial. We have been clear that this is not the start of a new rowing club using our facilities, it is a development of our club portfolio aligned to the RYA strategy and supported by ENP regarding appropriate use and development of the lake. Whilst I stand down as Commodore this year after 3 years, I have offered to the committee to be the sponsor of this for 3 years to deliver the strategy should the pilot be successful.

Rowing is likely to be a developing activity on the lake and next month we have Oxford Universities Rowing Club training for 3 days using Bala SC as their training base. It is a great opportunity for our club to be supporting this in the early stages!

I am happy to discuss this or share the strategy document with members if you would like to see it / discuss it over a coffee.

Rob Sloggett

Commodore

Last updated 15:02 on 25 March 2026