On the back of Team GB’s successful showing on the water at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Norwich Rowing Club is throwing open its doors to the public for the Great British Rowing Weekend.

From 7-8 September, clubs around the country will be welcoming their local communities, giving them the chance to give rowing a try, with British Rowing looking to grow visibility and participation in the sport.

Norwich have around 125 members, hold two junior sessions a week, with seniors training at weekends, and will be hosting social events to keep the whole family entertained on the day.

Vice chair Ed Sidgwick said: “I think the weekend will be great for the sport as a whole and hopefully the club can piggyback off that as well.

“We’ve got a friends and family barbecue which coincides with the big weekend and there will be the usual sort of clubhouse things.

“We haven’t got much in the way of rowing events at the weekend, partly because our Learn to Row course is full either side of it.

“We’ve had 10 juniors on the water starting from scratch and in a couple of weeks’ time we’ll have an adults’ course, with 12 adults who are new to rowing.”

After a disappointing Games in Tokyo, the British rowing team enjoyed a spectacular return to form during the Paris Olympics, winning nine medals including three golds, and have more success in their sights at the ongoing Paralympics.

Among Norwich’s alumni is Samantha Redgrave, who was part of the women’s four crew who claimed silver for Great Britain at the Paris Olympics, alongside Helen Glover, Esme Booth and Rebecca Shorten.

Sidgwick said: “Sam learned to row, officially, at the University of East Anglia, but mostly with Norwich Rowing Club and from here went to the Leander Club, which is one of the main clubs in the country, and then on to the national squad.

“She would be the main success story and hopefully will help to inspire the next generation within the club.

“She has been back to the club since the Olympics; she came back last weekend with her medal, which was amazing for all the juniors at the club.

“To think that she went from nothing, in terms of her rowing ability, to picking up a medal at the Olympics, in about 10-15 years, some of those at Norwich, is inspiring to youngsters starting out.”

A celebration of rowing! The Great British Rowing Weekend launches in 2024. From 7-8 September 2024, clubs around the country will be opening their doors to their local communities, giving everyone in the UK a chance to try rowing – for more information visit britishrowing.org