Rowing

When Helen Glover and Heather Stanning became the first female British rowers to win an Olympic title they opened the floodgates for an unprecedented nine medal tally for Team GB rowing. Together with Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins’ gold in the Women’s Double Sculls, their remarkable performance also demonstrated how women can lead the way in one of the nation’s most successful sports. Consequently, rowing is now among the most popular sports in the UK and more girls than ever are eager to take part.

Opportunity and achievement

Happily, at Bedford Girls’ School, expert coaching, an ideal location and timetabled rowing lessons means that we are able to make this aspiration a reality for girls in the Senior School who are all given an opportunity to try out this uniquely demanding and rewarding sport. In consequence, the school is achieving ever-increasing success on the water at elite level and, thanks to a stunning victory over France, by Lottie Bruce and Robyn Armstrong, in July 2012, can now boast two British gold medalists of its own. In addition, several of our girls have had trials for the Junior Great Britain team and our boats are increasingly winning trophies and accolades at major UK regattas.

Facilities and coaching

We are fortunate to have 23 single sculls, eight double sculls, 12 quads and three eights, as well as use of an extremely well equipped boat house shared by the Harpur Trust schools. Our range of boats means we can cater for any type and size of team and can row in both sweep and sculling styles. Rowing is the most physically rigorous of all the sports we offer and our Head of rowing, herself a Great Britain medallist, Assistant Head of Rowing and team of expert part time coaches are on hand to coach with the right balance of care, encouragement and support, essential in a sport where an extremely high level of fitness is required and training demands are high. Our rowing staff also work extremely closely with academic teaching staff to ensure that girls are able to give their all in the classroom as well as on the water.

Holistic benefits

Camaraderie and team spirit is exceptionally high among Bedford Girls’ School rowers and these attributes translate directly into all other areas of life. Fantastic support from the Friends of Bedford Girls’ School Rowing Club helps to carry this sense of nurture and care into the wider world of competition and on into university and the workplace. Typically, our rowers will continue to row at university and are empowered by their success on the water to achieve personally, professionally and emotionally.

As well as testing the body to the maximum, rowing promotes teamwork, dedication, resilience, determination and friendship. It embodies the core values of Bedford Girls’ School and we are proud to offer one of the most comprehensive and successful girls’ rowing programmes in the country.