On the back of Team GB’s successful showing on the water at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Reading 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.

Reading have around 300 members, run evening sessions three to four times a week as well as ones for juniors, seniors, and master’s during the weekend, and will be hosting on-water and indoor taster sessions on the day.

Club treasurer Peter Milhofer said: “For us, it’s the first weekend of the season anyway, so a lot of the squads will be doing their normal things, but we’ve got two taster sessions.

“We run our Learn to Row that you can do a taster session and if you like it, you can go on our Learn to Row course, and we’re running those on Saturday and Sunday.

“We normally run one a month, but because it’s the weekend we’ll do one each day so anyone can sign up and give themselves a bit of a feel for what the club is and what will be involved if they wanted to learn to row.

“We’ve found some people have misconceptions, as rowing is not quite Sunday afternoon out on the Serpentine, it’s a bit more serious than that.”

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.

Reading’s alumni include Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne, who won bronze alongside Becky Wilder in the women’s double sculls at the Paris Olympics, while brothers Ben and Olli Snoxall are promising beach sprinters.

Milhofer said: “Our goal is to get people who aren’t active, active and then it’s great when you watch juniors who started as beginners being selected for Team GB.

“It’s not just about performance, it’s more about helping people become more active and achieve whatever their personal objectives are.

“The success Team GB had at the Olympics does help inspire the juniors, particularly because the GB squad trains about a mile and a half from us, near Caversham.

“Our juniors usually get invited to go and stay when they’re doing trials, so they get to meet the athletes than is normal for other clubs.”

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