PENARTH Rowing Club is undertaking a bold new development plan to improve its existing facilities and expand its membership base as of January 2015.

An extensive refurbishment program, funded by the recent success of the Penarth regatta in September, is already underway as part of the club’s overhaul plan, and the local river and sea rowing club is now piloting its ‘New Year’s Row-Solution’ scheme, which offers a one-time opportunity for people in the area to try out a new sport and become involved in one of the oldest and most integral elements of Penarth’s sporting heritage. The scheme allows anybody to receive seven weeks training on and off the water with the coaches, at least twice per week, for a one-off £35 entry and will begin on the coming Tuesday, January 13.

The program includes an introduction to river and sea sculling and an induction to the club and its facilities, as well as ultimately culminating in a friendly regatta at the seafront for all new rowers.

Penarth Rowing Club is hoping that this will provide a new way for local people to get involved in this traditional watersport and make it accessible to a wider range of people in the community. The club’s revamp has been catalysed by the appointment of new Captain, Andrew Zacharias, who had the message: "I am delighted to have been appointed as the new Captain of the oldest active rowing club in Wales, and am now looking forward to using the club’s vision to become a leading rowing club in the country; supporting both social and competitive rowing in the local area."

Looking forward, the club is also planning to hold fundraising row-a-thons in the near future, as well as charity quizzes as part of the growth of the seaside rowers’ outfit. Meanwhile, the club’s junior squads, in particular, are aiming to have another successful competitive season in 2015, beginning with a bid to retain last year’s medals in the February Cardiff Head race.