Milton Keynes Rowing Club (MKRC), based at Caldecotte Lake, has been increasing its membership since its foundation in 1995. 24 years later, and following a successful “Learn to Row campaign by British Rowing, the club continues to enjoy introducing new members to the sport.

This year sees the club embark on its most ambitious of all fund-raising projects – to build their very own boatshed and provide a safe and efficient way to store its boats. Milton Keynes rowers work very hard to raise funds for much needed equipment, including boats, so the local community are able to enjoy the sport of rowing. The club’s fund-raising programme has seen previous ambitious club-set challenges; such as rowing the Channel and running the Milton Keynes Half Marathon whilst carrying a boat - each event bringing welcomed funds towards the maintenance of its boats and equipment.

Milton Keynes Rowing Club are also helped along the way by local businesses that donate and offer sponsorship at the club’s British Rowing Regatta held at Caldecotte Lake each year.

Over the years, Milton Keynes Rowing Club has endured storing their boats outside in all weather conditions, but the dream of building their own boatshed is now becoming a reality. The total boatshed grant is a mix of greatly received funds from Milton Keynes Council, MK Community Foundation and Sport England. The total amount amassed has been made up from a variety of fund-raising and business sponsorship, with a special thanks to Geoffrey Leavers Solicitors and the Park’s Trust for their contribution in the project. The project has been five years in the making, with a nominated committed project team from within the club driving it through, with their individual expertise and networking. Building the Milton Keynes Rowing Club Boatshed will commence early this year, with plans to improve the current indoor training and storage bay to offer increased training capacity for the rowers. Milton Keynes Rowing Club are competitively successful across the region and in key rowing events nationally and globally, and its training facilities will be much improved by this project which is welcomed by the rowers.

Louise Rivett, Club Chair said ‘I hope that the new boat house will give us a means to store our boats in a way which will lengthen the life of our boats and improve the experience of getting them to and from the water for our members. I also hope that it will make the storage area look tidier and less cluttered for the residents in the surrounding area. The subsequent refurbishment of the current storage area in the clubhouse will provide members with a vastly improved training area which we hope will attract more local people into the sport of rowing and indoor rowing’

This year’s MKRC Learn to Row course is scheduled for Monday 22nd April at Caldecotte Lake, with an available 2 hour Taster Session on Saturday 6th April. No rowing experience is required, head to the club‘s website www.MKRowingClub.org to find out more.