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

Carmarthen have 48 members, run four indoor sessions a week and on-water sessions at weekends, and will be hosting on-water and indoor taster sessions, as well as social events such as a barbecue and cake sale.

Club chair Shaun James said: “Our tide is out really early in the morning, so it will be starting around 8am, which is a bit early but the latest we can start because we’re by a tidal river.

“We’ll get some people to do some technical stuff on the rowers, under a gazebo if the weather’s nice, and we’ll try and get people out on the water on a coastal double for about 10-15 minutes a time.”

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.

Despite Carmarthen only being four years old, they someone who has broken a world record in their ranks in Tom Allison.

James said: “Last year, Tom rowed about 100k for charity on an indoor rower, just to raise a bit of money and actually held the world on a Concept2 for about three or four months, which is quite impressive.”

The club are striving to become more inclusive, with James saying: “We’ve had some interest from people with extra requirements, so we are working on some stuff to get ready for when we do have those members.

“We have a lady whose sons are in the club and her sister has Down Syndrome, and she wanted to come along for a row, so we got her out on the water with some supervision.

“She had a whale of a time, so that was a nice thing to do, and next year we’ll have a partially sighted boy who’s really excited to join.”

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