In an effort to popularise rowing among young people on the island, Longtails Rowing Club will be offering free lessons in September.

Zoe Oduntan, the club’s 12-year-old founder, is determined to give young people an opportunity to learn the sport, in the hope that it will possibly lead to local and international competition.

The free lessons start next weekend and Oduntan is excited at the chance to bring the sport to a younger audience.

“We are offering a free ‘Learn to Row’ programme for the first two weekends in September, thanks to our generous volunteers, led by David Stubbs,’’ Oduntan said.

“After that, we’ll continue with the development squad starting in October. We also plan on having our own makeshift regattas on a frequent basis and the cost is the annual Bermuda Rowing Association membership fee of $210.

“We plan to run sessions two to three times a week, weather permitting, through the fall, winter and spring terms. We’re also planning for Easter and summer camps and want to gauge interest now so we can plan for enough coaches and fundraising if needed.”

Oduntan, a student at Saltus Grammar School, came up with the idea of a club dedicated to youth early this month after discovering that there was no training offered for young athletes by the Bermuda Rowing Association.

My journey into rowing isn't a typical one,’’ she said.

“I didn’t really have that one sport I enjoyed until I joined Orlando City Boat Club’s summer rowing camp two years ago. My mum was thrilled I’d found something I loved, so on returning to school she reached out to my school to see if they offered it, but they didn’t.

“During one of our physical education rotations, we had an erging period, which I really enjoyed, especially because I surprised myself with the fastest time among the girls.

“My mum then contacted my coach at LifeThyme CrossFit and other people she knew to see if they could connect me with a rowing coach, but we didn’t find anyone.

“She even reached out to the Bermuda Rowing Association, but they didn’t have anything for children during the school year and couldn’t recommend a coach.

“That’s why we were so excited when the Bermuda Pilot Gig Club, a group of adult rowers, let me join. It meant rowing in wooden boats with people the age of my parents or older, but I didn’t mind it at all.

“I could row on a weekly basis, even sometimes twice a week. They are an amazing group to row with as well and they make me feel welcome. I've been rowing with them regularly since May last year and even participated in the last Convex Middle-to-End.”

It was the youngster’s participation in a race in Florida in July, where she won two medals, which planted the seed for setting up a club.

“This summer, I went back to the club in Orlando where it all started and for the first time got an opportunity to compete in my first true competitive regatta, the Halifax Regatta in Daytona, Florida,” Oduntan said.

“Thankfully, I won medals in both of my events, a bronze in the double and a silver in the quad. Most college and youth regattas use sculling, so I was happy to be able to compete despite having done only gig rowing for a year as I was competing with people who do sculling three to five times a week with coaches.”

After hearing about her success, Stubbs, who is also a board member of the BRA and an avid sculling rower himself, reached out to learn how he could help.

“I now have some of the key missing pieces required to start the Longtails Rowing Club as Bermuda's first dedicated youth rowing club,” she said.

“Mr Stubbs has been incredibly generous with his time in designing the club's programme and fitting it within the auspices of the Bermuda Rowing Association.

“The club is open to middle and high school students even if they have never tried the sport. All they need is to be able to swim 150 metres and be ready to have fun learning.

“We hope that LRC will someday produce students who can go on to row in college or even represent Bermuda someday.

“We are looking for people with sculling experience or launch drivers. They can sign up as volunteers on bit.ly/longtailsvolunteer.”