Hosted in Bath by the University of Bath and Minerva Bath RC, this Performance Development Academy was set up in 2003, and has produced some of GB’s most decorated rowers including double Olympic Champions Helen Glover and Heather Stanning.

All athletes at this Performance Development Academy have access to excellent training facilities at the university’s Sports Training Village, which includes a fully-equipped high performance gym, a physio and medical treatment centre, physiology lab and video analysis suite.

Minerva Bath RC is based on a 4km stretch of the River Avon.

The South West also has a Satellite Academy at Hartpury University and College in Gloucester. This Academy is hosted by Gloucester RC, one of the oldest rowing clubs in Great Britain, located on one of longest stretches of unlocked water in the country.

The relationship between Hartpury and Gloucester RC has seen the Under 19 programme develop into one of the strongest in the UK, thanks to excellent facilities both on and off the water.

The College offers accommodation and education for students on the programme and has access to a strength/conditioning and a cardio-vascular gym, as well as support services covering physiotherapy, sports psychology and lifestyle management. There is also provision for Under 23 and senior level rowers to train in association with Hartpury University.

Our Performance Development Academy in Nottingham, established in 2003, benefits from links to both Nottingham RC and the National Water Sports Centre in Holme Pierrepont Country Park.

Nottingham RC is based neat Trent Bridge on a stretch of the River Trent. Athletes occasionally use the river but predominantly train on the lake at the National Water Sports Centre, 10 minutes away from the city centre. Ergo and weight sessions take place at Nottingham RC’s training centre.

This Performance Development Academy has strong links with local schools as well as the University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University and Loughborough University. Rowers have also been recruited from Harlequins Women’s Rugby and Newcastle Falcons academy.

The Yorkshire Performance Development Academy is based at Stourton Boathouse in Leeds, home of the University of Leeds BC and Leeds RC, on a 4km stretch of the Aire and Calder Navigation Canal. This provides ideal training conditions for learning to row as well as regatta preparations. Land training is split between using the facilities at the boathouse as well as at University of Leeds for strength and conditioning sessions.

The Performance Development Academy in Manchester was set up in 2004 and is hosted by Agecroft RC, at Salford Quays. Founded in 1861, Agecroft is one of the oldest open membership rowing clubs in the world. The current club building is a purpose built watersports centre and is fully equipped with ergo and weights rooms.

The centre is located on a quiet 5km stretch of the River Irwell, and benefits from being the only boathouse in the area. Based just outside Manchester, there are excellent travel links, and the programme recruits from local universities – Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan, Salford, Liverpool, and Lancaster.

Since June 2024, our East London Performance Development Academy is based at Lea RC, recently recognised as British Rowing Club of the Year in 2022. This new location features a 7km stretch of training water and excellent facilities, including a fully equipped gym, training hall, study and relaxation area, a quality fleet of racing boats, and regular access to the 2km stretch at the London Regatta Centre in Docklands.

Situated in the vibrant heart of Hackney, the Academy seeks to harness the diverse talent of East London. In a community historically underrepresented in rowing, particularly on the Olympic pathway, the Academy is committed to supporting talented individuals and ensuring that circumstances do not hinder their success in sports.

We are actively recruiting athletes to feed our Junior Rowing Programme and our Over-19 Development Squad, who train alongside our senior performance athletes. Our aim is to develop these athletes to contribute to the Olympic Project LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032. Additionally, our Olympic Pathway Coach works closely with other aspiring athletes at local clubs in East London such as Globe, Mossbourne and Curlew to foster emerging talent.

The GB Rowing Team’s Performance Development Academy is hosted by Scottish Rowing  at Strathclyde Country Park near Motherwell.

Strathclyde Park is the only 2000m multi-lane course in Scotland and was built in 1986 for the Commonwealth Games. Athletes train mostly at the Scottish Rowing Centre, beside the Strathclyde Park Watersports Centre, which boasts a recently refurbished multi-use gym with a strength and conditioning area, ergometers, static bikes and an indoor rowing tank.

No, we recruit individuals with no prior experience.

No! Training at one of our Performance Development Academies is just one way to develop a rowing career. Many of our Olympians learnt to row at school, university or a local club. Find out about the other ways to get into rowing here.

To become an Olympian takes time so we want to recruit people that have the years ahead of them to develop the skills and fitness that can take them to the podium.

Many of the most successful rowers are tall. This is because their long levers (arms and legs) help to gain maximum propulsion and make the boat go faster.  Our talent ID programme is therefore looking for people with this attribute.

You will still have a lot of growing and developing to do, so if you are under 14 years of age we would advise you to take part in a broad range of sporting activities to develop your general fitness and co-ordination. We’d love to hear from you once you are old enough so please get in touch with us then!

You can find out more about what happens when you’re invited to a attend a talent testing session here.

Yes, of course.  We would like to work with anyone that shows Olympic potential. We will try to work with anyone who has good test results including being a “satellite athlete” with a local rowing club.

Your coach will set your training programme depending on your age and where you are in your rowing development. You will need to fit your training around other commitments such as school/college so expect some early mornings! For example, a 14 year old might train four times per week, whereas a school leaver would be aiming for 12 sessions per week.

You can still learn to row and perform to a high standard.  Use the Club Finder to find your nearest club.