Sport in the Community

by Steve Shaw

A TRIUMPHANT symbol of r-oar-ing success will hang on the wall of Trentham Watersports Association's new £350,000 complex when it is unveiled during the coming weeks.

That's because the association, which caters for around 1,000 people of all ages, will be able to proudly show off their 2007 City of Stoke-on-Trent Sports Award in the lavish surroundings they deserve.

Their band of dedicated coaches guided their charges to a bagful of medals in 2007, which landed them victory in the Sport in the Community category.

Now the association, based at Trentham Gardens lake, is looking forward to an even brighter future as they prepare to move into their plush new boathouse.

Their current shed-like building will be replaced by a 4,865 sq ft structure which will house equipment, changing facilities and a meeting room.

The new facility will come as a big boost to the association's watersport groups, including youth and disabled members, who participate in a competitive or recreational capacity.

Work on the development started in October and could be completed as soon as next month.

Ruth Holdway, the association's secretary, feels the new building will boost their profile.

She said: "We have been using a shed which means we have had to share our storage and changing room facilities.

"I think the new building will help more people get more involved with the association in the long term.

"Whereas parents may have left straight after a session, they may now stay behind and socialise and become a bigger part of the club."

The association, which is more than three years old, represents various watersport groups including Trentham Boat Club, Staffordshire University Boat Club, Trentham Canoe Club and Eccleshall Scouts.

The new complex was mainly paid for by grants, although fund-raising activities by the association itself, the Staffordshire Environmental Trust and Eccleshall Scouts also contributed to the cost.

They topped the pile in the Community category after achieving huge success in 2007.

Their list of achievements included the girls junior 14 and junior 13 relay team winning gold medals at the British Indoor Rowing Championships.

Not to be outdone, the boys junior 14 also grabbed gold medals at the English Indoor Rowing Championships.

Then there was Jade Russ, who won two silvers at the World Special Olympics in Shanghai.

Seventy junior regatta wins and the Junior Northern Ball Cup title were other notable highlights.

The outstanding year paved the way for them to figure prominently at last year's awards.

Holdway is also the canoe club's secretary and works with the group as a sports development coach.

She was a finalist in the Service to Sport category, while rowing club coach Darren Barton made the short-list in the Coach of the Year section.

Barton also played a big role in helping Trentham Rowing Club win the Junior Team of the Year prize.

Holdway added: "It was very exciting to win the award at the time. But we also wanted to share it with our landlords, the Trentham Estate, who have put so much effort in to help us achieve what we have.

"And they have seen the amount of effort we have put in.

"We were nominated for so many awards, so it was nice that our different clubs could share in what was a great night.

"It also makes other people aware of what we are doing and how incredibly well people are doing in sports they don't usually hear about."

Now Holdway says the association faces the challenge of attracting even more members to watersports at Trentham.

She said: "In terms of our membership we have consolidated since 2007.

"We never have any trouble in getting youngsters to take part in taster sessions, but we need to convert them into members and help them develop."