Passion, dedication and some oars
Victoria Lake Junior Rowing Club grows from strength to strength.
Rowing is the act of propelling a boat through the water with the use of oars.
However, at the Victoria Lake Junior Rowing Club, which is the junior development section of the historic Victoria Lake Rowing Club which has existed for more than 100 years, this definition seems far too simple to describe the sport that has drawn members from far and wide to Germiston Lake.
Junior rowing in South Africa is mostly exercised by a limited number of private and state schools, a number of which operate out of Germiston Lake.
This often means children who do not attend “rowing” schools are only able to participate through one of the few junior rowing clubs in South Africa, of which the Victoria Lake Junior Rowing Club is one of three such clubs located in Gauteng.
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“We have young rowers who do not attend schools that offer rowing and in the winter months we have a number of rowers who do attend schools that offer rowing as a sport but who do not continue the sport in the winter,” explained club co-ordinator Karen Reed.
Membership at the club dropped to just five members but has grown to 35 members since January.
The club caters for children from 11 to 18 years old, from all walks of life.
Rowing starts every weekday at 4pm, giving members the chance to get to the lake as some come from as far as Sandton.
Junior members receive both on-water and land-based coaching presented by professional coaching staff, headed by Talbot Pule, who has been coaching since 2012.
“I really enjoy rowing, so I gravitated to coaching naturally.
“I rowed in high school in addition to playing basketball.
“A couple of years after high school I started coaching basketball but when I was done with the sport I began coaching rowing – the sport I had always been doing in the background,” said Pule.
Pule’s love for the sport and his passion for teaching helps him to train his students.
“I have a passion for teaching, I get a lot of enjoyment out of taking a person who has never done the sport before and helping them progress from a beginner to a novice to a professional,” he said.
When asked what he loves most about rowing as a sport, Pule battled to choose.
“There are so many things, but what stands out most is the excitement.
“The adrenaline rush that you get from cheering your students on from the bank can’t be compared to anything else,” he said.
Pule knows his students want to be at the club, which makes a big difference.
“You sometimes find that schools will force their students to compete, with our stand-alone club I know our children want to be here and that makes my job easy.
“We are not highly pressured and regimental and we all get along and this really makes every day a pleasure,” Pule said.
A statement that is clearly visible when watching the members of the club interacting and laughing as they prepare to take to the water.
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During the season, junior members have the opportunity to compete in local, regional and national competitions (regattas).
“We pride ourselves on getting our rowers on the water in their own skull (boat) as soon as possible so they can start learning balance and other elements.
“Sometimes within weeks of their first lesson they will compete in their first regatta,” said Pule.
Sadly the club does experience some problems when it comes to competing.
“We do encounter some problems when competing as members who attend schools which offer rowing cannot compete for the club against their schools and will instead have to compete for their schools,” explained Reed.
The club which is completely self-funded is looking for their own space.
“The master club has donated space and boats – for which we are very grateful – but as we grow we want to have our own space and selection of boats,” said Reed.
When asked what is most appealing about rowing for the children, Reed felt they enjoyed the social and team teamwork aspects, on top of the responsibility and trust they are given.
Reed looks forward to the club’s future and hopes to grow the club further with plans to visit non-rowing schools in the area to talk to learners about the sport and the club.
If you would like more information on the club, send an email to vlrcjuniors@gmail.com or visit the club’s Facebook page by searching Victoria Lake Junior Rowing Club.
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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.zaor Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist) kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za
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