Newry Rowing Club - Ready Steady Row

Aim: Our aim is to refurbish and expand our rowing equipment to meet growing community demand and provide a beginners programme.

Newry Rowing Club

Newry Rowing Club is a voluntary, community sports organisation affiliated to Rowing Ireland. It was founded in 1873 and is based at the Albert Basin on Newry Canal. 

The club provides a range of sports opportunities in both a competitive, social and recreational way. Rowing is becoming a popular sport in Newry and now has 75 active members training weekly.

Our club offers Rowing for Juniors from 13 years old + and we welcome all ages to come down to Newry Canal and give rowing a go. Our membership ranges in age from 12 - 65.

What is the project?

Ready Steady Row is a new initiative by Newry Rowing Club designed to get 30 new people from our local community on the water and enjoying the sport of rowing. The project will refurbish and upgrade essential equipment—making it safer, more accessible, and beginner-friendly—so we can launch a dedicated programme for newcomers. With the right gear, we’ll be able to welcome young people, adults, and families onto the canal, introducing them to rowing in a safe, supported environment. The equipment we upgrade will not only support this first intake of beginners but will also allow us to run regular programmes in the future, ensuring long-term impact and sustainability. Ready Steady Row is about opening up our sport to more people, building confidence, and creating a strong, active community on and off the water.

Why are we crowdfunding?

Our rowing club is facing a significant challenge: the demand for rowing is increasing but most of our equipment is old, outdated, and nearing the end of its usable life. This not only limits the number of people who can safely participate in the sport but also impacts the quality of the experience we can offer. With the recent surge in local interest, particularly among young people and beginners, the demand for equipment far exceeds our capacity. Without proper resources, we risk turning away potential rowers and missing an opportunity to foster a love for the sport in our community. This challenge highlights the urgent need for funding to refurbish and expand our equipment to meet growing demand.

Our small rowing club has been a cornerstone of our community, introducing people of all ages to the joy of rowing. However, much of our equipment is aging and nearing the end of its life. With a growing interest in the sport and increased demand for access to the water, we’re seeking your support to refurbish and replace our old equipment. By upgrading our fleet, we can provide a safe and inclusive environment for more people to experience the benefits of rowing, from improved fitness to building a strong community spirit. 

We're crowdfunding to purchase essential equipment to allow us to run a beginners programme for the local community and beginner programmes in the future. The initial funding will allow us to purchase equipment enabling beginners to get on the water on Newry canal. Rowing Ireland have recently teamed up with a local secondary school who have trained in the gym for weeks. As the only local club and without beginner equipment we cannot get them on the water. We're hoping to raise funds to purchase essential equipment to enable people in the local community with an interest in rowing the opportunity to take part in the sport.

 This crowdfunding campaign will enable us to:

Launch Ready Steady Row, a 4-week beginner programme for 30 participants.

Purchase and refurbish essential equipment to support this programme.

Create a long-term foundation to continue beginner outreach programmes.

Project Timeline

Phase 1: 

Fundraising Weeks 1-3

• Launch and promote crowdfunding campaign. 
• Build community support and momentum.

Phase 2: 

Equipment Purchase Week 3

• Order beginner-friendly boat, shoes, floats, and safety gear. 
• Secure land-based training equipment.

Phase 3: 

Equipment Setup & Refurbishment Weeks 4-5

• Install junior shoes, refurbish riggers, fit floats, and prepare the beginner quad.

Phase 4: Land-Based Training Prep Week 5-6

• Deliver initial indoor rowing (ERG) and S&C sessions to build technique and fitness.

Phase 5: 

• Ready Steady Row Programme (On-Water) Weeks 6+Run a 4-week beginner rowing programme for 30 participants on Newry Canal.

Phase 6: Club Integration & Follow-On Opportunities

Invite participants to join full club membership and transition to ongoing training. Evaluate outcomes and prepare for the next intake.

How will we spend the money raised?

The funds raised will be used to purchase beginner specific equipment and refurbish our aging rowing equipment to make it suitable for those wanting to learn. This will include repairing boats, replacing worn-out oars, and upgrading safety gear, ensuring everyone can enjoy the sport safely and comfortably. By investing in this equipment, we aim to accommodate the growing demand and provide greater opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to experience the joy of rowing. 

The equipment will help us to get beginners of all ages onto the water enjoying a new sport. Currently the club owns fine rowing boats which are unstable and off putting for beginners. We hope to purchase a beginner's quad to enable us to get beginners on the water in an enjoyable way. We have large waiting lists of young people in the community looking to join the club but at present lots of the shoes for our boats are adult sizes 9+. We would like to purchase junior shoes so that a new intake of junior rowers can take part in equipment suited to their size.

As a club we train both on land and in the water and we would like to raise funds to for beginner land sessions and equipment such as a rowing machine that can be used at the Albert Basin for correcting technique. Sculling floats and safety packs are essential to the club before we can get more beginners on the water to ensure the young people's safety.  

Budget Breakdown – How We’ll Spend the Money

£825 12 Pairs of Junior Girls’ Shoes - Ensure juniors can row safely and comfortably

£1,000 Beginner Quad Boat - Stable and safe boat ideal for newcomers

£1,000 Refurbishment of Junior Quad - Improve safety and usability for junior boat

£900 Refurbishment of Junior Double - Improve safety and usability for junior boat

£720 Double Sculling Floats - Increase boat stability for early learners

£350 Single Sculling Floats - Support individuals learning sculling basics

£500 each 4 Pairs of Sculling Oars - Essential rowing equipment for training

£180 Rescue Packs - Safety gear to ensure on-water protection

£350 Cox Box Wiring for Quad - Allow coach to speak to junior rowers from the cox seat

£550 Trestles - Trestles for teaching parts of the boat and building and taking boats apart for transport.

£500 Waterproof Coaching Megaphone & Battery

£100 Waterproof Charger

£900 Beginner Strength & Conditioning (S&C) Sessions - Build strength and injury prevention

£800 Beginner Indoor Rowing (ERG) Sessions -Teach technique and introduce rowing movement

Total Project Cost: £10,175

Every pound raised will go directly toward making rowing accessible, safe, and enjoyable for new participants in our community. Your support will help us put oars in hands, smiles on faces, and build a stronger, more inclusive Newry Rowing Club.

Community impact

Refurbishing and expanding our equipment will have a significant impact on our community, enabling more people to access the physical, mental, and social benefits of rowing. From encouraging youth participation to providing a space for adults to connect and stay active, the club fosters inclusivity and builds a sense of belonging. By supporting this project, you’ll help us create a vibrant, healthy, and engaged community, both on and off the water.

How you can play your part?

You can help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.

1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!

2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 11th August 2025 at 2:33pm