Rowers compete in Portsmouth Pull challenge for disadvantaged young people

Five teams of rowers are racing around Portsmouth Harbour this Friday to raise funds for Oarsome Chance

Five teams of rowers will race head-to-head in the Portsmouth Pull as they bid to break the course record for a 10km lap of Portsmouth Harbour this Friday.

Organised by youth development charity, Oarsome Chance, the event pits five-person teams in 23-ft wooden skiffs against each other in the race around Portsmouth’s iconic harbour.

Teams are from local organisations, all keen to help raise funds for Oarsome Chance, while also testing their rowing skills on the day. The race starts at 12.30 on Friday and the winner will be the team completing a lap of the historic naval harbour in the fastest time.

The event begins and finishes at Oarsome Chance’s HQ at St Vincent College on the Gosport Peninsula and takes in Portsmouth’s most iconic landmarks including the Spinnaker Tower, Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory, Portchester Castle and Gosport’s Millennium Bridge.

It’s raising vital funds to run our programmes for disadvantaged young people

John Gillard, Oarsome Chance Principal, said: “This week’s Portsmouth Pull is gearing up to be a really competitive event and the battle is on to break the course record. This is an important fundraising event for us, so as well as some great fun on the water; it’s raising vital funds to run our programmes for disadvantaged young people.”

Oarsome Chance works to bring about change for young people, aged from nine to 19 years of age, by introducing them to coastal and indoor rowing and also provides opportunities to learn boatbuilding skills.

Established in 2015, the charity has already engaged with over 1,500 participants through its rowing and workshop programmes.

 

Find out more here.