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.<\/p>\n
This often means children who do not attend \u201crowing\u201d 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.<\/p>
ALSO READ:\u00a0Kicking their way to nationals<\/a><\/h4>\n\u201cWe 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,\u201d explained club co-ordinator Karen Reed.<\/p>\n
Membership at the club dropped to just five members but has grown to 35 members since January.<\/p>\n
The club caters for children from 11 to 18 years old, from all walks of life.<\/p>\n
Rowing starts every weekday at 4pm, giving members the chance to get to the lake as some come from as far as Sandton.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really enjoy rowing, so I gravitated to coaching naturally.<\/p>\n
\u201cI rowed in high school in addition to playing basketball.<\/p>\n
\u201cA couple of years after high school I started coaching basketball but when I was done with the sport I began coaching rowing \u2013 the sport I had always been doing in the background,\u201d said Pule.<\/p>\n
Pule\u2019s love for the sport and his passion for teaching helps him to train his students.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
When asked what he loves most about rowing as a sport, Pule battled to choose.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are so many things, but what stands out most is the excitement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe adrenaline rush that you get from cheering your students on from the bank can\u2019t be compared to anything else,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Pule knows his students want to be at the club, which makes a big difference.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are not highly pressured and regimental and we all get along and this really makes every day a pleasure,\u201d Pule said.<\/p>\n
A statement that is clearly visible when watching the members of the club interacting and laughing as they prepare to take to the water.<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:\u00a0Hole-in-one for youngster at Germiston Golf Club<\/a><\/h4>\nDuring the season, junior members have the opportunity to compete in local, regional and national competitions (regattas).<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes within weeks of their first lesson they will compete in their first regatta,\u201d said Pule.<\/p>\n
Sadly the club does experience some problems when it comes to competing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d explained Reed.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2018\/05\/20GCNSPORTROWLH_82923-520x390.jpg\")
Three members of the Victoria Lake Junior Rowing Club take to the water.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe club which is completely self-funded is looking for their own space.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe master club has donated space and boats \u2013 for which we are very grateful \u2013 but as we grow we want to have our own space and selection of boats,\u201d said Reed.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Reed looks forward to the club\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
If you would like more information on the club, send an email to vlrcjuniors@gmail.com or visit the club\u2019s Facebook page by searching Victoria Lake Junior Rowing Club.<\/p>\n
Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\nContact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nRemember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n
Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nTwitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nInstagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nYouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nOr add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\nCatch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n
During the season, junior members have the opportunity to compete in local, regional and national competitions (regattas).<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes within weeks of their first lesson they will compete in their first regatta,\u201d said Pule.<\/p>\n
Sadly the club does experience some problems when it comes to competing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d explained Reed.<\/p>\n The club which is completely self-funded is looking for their own space.<\/p>\n \u201cThe master club has donated space and boats \u2013 for which we are very grateful \u2013 but as we grow we want to have our own space and selection of boats,\u201d said Reed.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Reed looks forward to the club\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n If you would like more information on the club, send an email to vlrcjuniors@gmail.com or visit the club\u2019s Facebook page by searching Victoria Lake Junior Rowing Club.<\/p>\n Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n