On the back of Team GB’s successful showing on the water at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Chester-le-Street 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.

Chester-le-Street have around 140 members, run five sessions a week for juniors and adults, and will be hosting on-water and indoor taster sessions, as well as social events such as a barbecue.

Club chair John Burford said: “We’ve invested about £50,000 into the club in the last 18 months for various upgrades and we’re attracting a high number of new rowers in from all abilities.

“So, this event has come at the right time for us. We’re going to put a bit of food and drink on for people coming down, in terms of soft drinks and some snacks.

“It’s been well advertised from our side as well and we’ve had about 10 new Learn to Row enquiries coming down for that weekend alone.

“We’re doing multiple platforms of advertising, so we’re probably going to have a nice problem of having to restrict the numbers coming in.

“We have people with disabilities coming down now – I don’t know how we can cater for adaptive rowing yet, but we’re going to give it a go.”

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.

Chester-le-Street are celebrating success for one of their own as member Lauren Irwin, who has helped the club advertise their Great British Rowing Weekend activities, won a bronze medal as part of the women’s eight crew during the Games.

Burford, whose son Harvey recently competed at the World Rowing Under-23 Championships in Canada, said: “I know we got a mention a couple of times on the broadcasts Lauren has been doing since winning the medal and it was lovely to see her [at the club].

“I’d never met Lauren before – I’d heard a lot about her and obviously I’d text her a few times – and she’d been in touch generally to come down and she was such a lovely person to talk to.

“All the junior rowers were sort of aghast and asking if they could go and talk to her, and I said: ‘Yeah, absolutely, come on.’

“There were some great questions coming across from the junior rowers and it was just inspirational for them to see and touch an Olympic medal.”

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