It has taken over two years of development and learning to bring Wisemans Bridge Rowing Club to one of its greatest achievements yet.

The InSport project started as a discussion with the then Chairman Phil Griffiths and the rest of the WBRC committee, and Pembrokeshire County Council Disability Sport Development officer Angela Miles.

The idea was to offer adaptive rowing to disabled people. At the time WBRC greatly underestimated the work that lay ahead of them, but with assistance from PCC, Sports Wales, Heritage Park funding and associated grants, WBRC started a development programme to bring them up to the required standards to get the boat moving.

Three members volunteered to take on the arduous task of getting the British Rowing Coaching qualifications.

Nick Ryan, Neil Cross and Jim Ball along with members from other clubs from across Wales travelled to Saundersfoot Harbour over consecutive weekends where the British Rowing Coaching team assembled to roll out the training program for the trainee coaches.

British Rowing were very impressed with the facilities at Saundersfoot Harbour, especially at Saundersfoot Sailing Club where the dry classroom sessions were held.

After the sessions, the trainee coaches had an 8 week programme to follow; they also had to prove they had worked with crews and documented any significant progress made. Once they had qualified, they joined up with Tenderfoot.

Saundersfoot Rotary has had a disabled adaptive sports team in the village for many years who compete in events across Wales, but the opportunity to try rowing had not been available.

WBRC started working with the Tenderfoot crews in 2016, and during this time both parties have built a skill base and techniques which have allowed them to keep developing the crew, the coaching team and ensuring that most importantly, everyone enjoys the experience of rowing. In February 2018 WBRC finally achieved the required standards and procedures to allow the InSport accreditation to be awarded.

This was a huge team effort and without the enthusiasm and commitment from the whole club and members of SSC it would not have been possible.

The final part of the jigsaw came this September when the opportunity to take some of the Tenderfoot crew on the water to experience sea rowing.

A huge amount of resources went into safely carrying out the sessions and the looks on their faces said it all. Of course this isn’t the end of the InSport journey for WBRC, they have only just started.

Its taken several groups from community to bring this all together and has shown a true village community attitude which WBRC are truly grateful for.

Huge thanks go to - Saundersfoot Rotary, Saundersfoot Harbour, Saundersfoot Sailing Club, Saundersfoot Strollers, Wiseman’s Bridge Inn, Heritage Park, Hean Castle estate, Sports Wales, Disability Sports Wales and Pembrokeshire County Council.

We look forward to seeing you all on the water!