In an initiative driven by the Youth Sports Trust and the British Council, in conjunction with the South African Ministry of Sport, Culture, and Art, Lordswood Boys’ School Sports Partnership in Birmingham have been linked with a School Sports Cluster in Viljoenskroon, a small rural town in the Free State. The sports cluster are part of the South Africa School Sport Mass Participation Programme (SSMPP). The majority of the schools in the cluster are in Rammulotsi township. As part of a return visit by the PDM, Neil Mackintosh, a joint project was initiated between the SSP, the ARA, and RowSA to bring indoor rowing to Rammulotsi. Eight Concept2 Indoor Rowers were borrowed by RowSA and training for sports assistants conducted on day one by staff and young leaders from the UK, including Jo Atkinson, West Midlands regional development officer for the ARA. Over the course of a week further pupils and staff were trained prior to an inter school IRC on the final afternoon. The format for the day was the November ‘fours’ event from the Concept2 Schools Indoor League. Fourteen teams competed and all now have times entered on the website. RowingSA were represented at the event by a former Olympian, Colleen Orsmund, and the Executive Director, Jacques Harmse.

The schools competing were:

Mphatlalatsane
Kgolagano
Rehauhetswe
Renyakalletse
Thabang

Fundraising prior to departure from the UK has led to the purchase of two refurbished ergos that will remain in Rammulotsi for use by the cluster schools. RowingSA will continue to support and develop the programme.

Anyone interested in helping develop grass routes rowing in Rammulotsi should contact Neil Mackintosh on the following email neil.mackintosh@lordswoodboys.bham.sch.uk