Case Study for British Rowing: Judith
In response to British Rowing’s enquiry regarding adaptive rowing in Lymington, Judith has kindly offered her Learn 2 Row experience as a case study.
Whispers across the counties brought Judith to us in Lymington. Her friend and ex colleague had recommended us after she had enjoyed learning to row with us (and has subsequently joined Lymington Rowing Club as a Recreational Rower).
A few introductory messages and conversations later, risk assessments/ weather and tide considered, Judith route mapped Hertfordshire to Lymington, reserved a hotel and her rowing journey with RA was planned.
Judith is registered with visual impairment @B3. She currently has limited tunnel vision in bright daylight, but none when light fails.
We chose a quiet weekday, with light winds and plenty of bright sunshine.
Wednesday Eve Try Indoor Rowing 60 mins
Using the Indoor session to meet each other and familiarise Judith with all rowing terms, saved us time in the cold, on the water. I was able to assess her mobility; posture and hip flexibility to decide which boat would be best to start her in the next day. She learned general movement sequencing (recovery/ drive), stroke rate and pressure change.
Thursday AM : Try Rowing Taster 60 mins and Confidence sessions.
We used the Rannoch Explorer (2x) for Judith’s first two water session. This gave me a chance to steer for her to deliver instructions in a relaxed way. She learned the hazards and dynamic of the river, consolidated her recovery and drive movement pattern and we worked on all the skills of balance and space for session 1 and 2 in this sturdy, adventuring boat.
Lunch Break: LTSC is the home of RA and they have a wonderful bar/lunch menu. We met Judith’s husband for a rest, a debrief of the morning and a bite to eat. After an hour or so Judith was chomping at the bit to get going again…
Thursday PM: Confidence session consolidation in a 1x.
The afternoon’s session was a consolidation of the skills learned in the morning but in a stable Glide Tide single scull (max 135kg/ 5m).
We started with Judith on a tow line (her bow line tied to my wing rigger) for river safety, so she could focus on her stroke technique and clean blade work. We then progressed to removing the tow line once we were in a safe area. The sea wall and the shallow water of Oxey lakes is the perfect playground with minimum hazard. We worked on me leading form her bow with voice control, me on her stern using my bow to help direct her steering. She soon became confident enough to steer a course listening to my voice, back to the slipway.
Some new rowers would have had their fill by then, but Judith took up my offer of joining our community of rowers who were meeting to enjoy a Solent Sunset Adventure. It was a glorious end to a very special day.
Next time:
Judith has already planned her next trip in mid February. She would like another session on the Indoor rower and then to crack on with the skill refinement in the single scull in the Competence session. She knows her sight is degenerative so is not wasting a single minute. With the right conditions, clothing and adventurous spirit, great things can happen.
I learned that In adaptive rowing's Coxed Four boat, LTA4+, the maximum number of rowers from the B3 class allowed in the boat is one. I expect she may become that one.
Be more like Judith. Awesome.
