Paralympic rower Alastair McKean helped introduce the sport of adaptive rowing to a new audience.

Thirty-six young people from special schools across the county took the opportunity to have a go at the sport, which challenges barriers to participation in sport for people with disabilities.

Youngsters with disabilites ranging from cerebral palsy to visual impairment each received specialist coaching from a team of instructors on the specially adapted indoor rowing machines at the King’s School Recreation Centre, Canterbury. After getting comfortable with the equipment, they finished the day off with a team time trial event.Mr McKean, who lives in Canterbury, said: “The equipment is designed to cater for the needs of various individuals depending on their disability.“We’ve tried to make each one of our 16 machines adapted to an individual child, so he or she can feel like they’ve achieved.”
The event was organised by the Kent Outdoor Pursuits Disability Project, with funding from Sport England and the support of Canterbury City Council.Instructor Paul Panton, from the Kent Sports Development Unit, believes events like these are a stepping stone.“It’s hoped the young people here will be able to go forward in their school and develop these activities for themselves,” he said.

Mr McKean, who suffered serious injuries to his right arm in a motorcycle accident, is a member of the Great Britain adaptive rowing team and is busy training for the Beijing Paralympics later this year.