As a rower for the past eight years, I can't express how much rowing has come to mean to me. It's more than just a sport, I'd call it an obsession. It's a sport in which I'm willing to sacrifice those hours of sleep (which are hard to come by as a double engineering major student), suffer through all those hours of pain, and put in countless hours alone training outside of the standard team practices. Quite honestly, rowing is something that is much more than a sport to me, it's something much bigger than I can even describe. It's how I've come to know my greatest friends - people that will stand beside me (and sit in the boat behind me) until the day I die. It is not often in life that one finds a group of people as dedicated to each other as rowers are, and I have found those I befriended and have learned to lead on the team are among the greatest men and women I grew up with. I wholeheartedly support this team, and hope for the best for those interested.
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Florus Plantenga
9 years ago
My son Marc has benefitted enormously from rowing and the fantastic support he got from coaches and teammates at LOSBC. It would be a terrible shame to destroy the result of all this hard work and commitment from students, parents and teachers over the years.
The boat club is a fantastic example of the broad education our children receive at the London Oratory School
W
Wes Pickering
9 years ago
I support the petition to keep rowing at the school
M
Martin Hogan
9 years ago
Ex-Captain, Commercial Rowing Club, Dublin
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Richard Philips
9 years ago
I have been involved in Rowing for 45 years and, during that time have had the privilege and honour to represent my country as an athlete and coach. Like many young people, I found that ball games were not for me. Rowing gave me the opportunity to excel in a sport where dedication, commitment and hard work are essential ingredients to success. There is a definite correlation between success on the river and achievement in the classroom.
The existence of a school boat club is an asset not to be cast aside lightly. It will bring far more to the educational table than many other activities.
L
Luca Nicolaou
9 years ago
The sport of rowing at LOS is so inclusive and creates a community for those not great at rugby (or even those who are!) to be involved in competitive sport and this is why the boat club has had such success.
I myself was a chubby little kid who wouldnt even be considered for sport at LOS and had no motivation or belief that I could be good at sport yet a year later I was competing for gold medals. Before rowing I achieved average grades, when I started I transformed as a student to getting mostly A*s.
That's what the sport of rowing can do for the school and to be so ignorant to even consider closing the boat club restricts and, in my opinion, robs so many students' potentials both in the sport and at the school, which would be a crying shame.
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
For shame.
P
Persephone Wynn
9 years ago
Rowing so good for all involved- def not a waste of money or time - sport for a lifetime of health and fitness
V
Valerie
9 years ago
Too much passion and funds put into this to lose it all now !!!!!!!
A
Agnieszka Zaremba
9 years ago
Please leave it.
B
Bruce Maclachlan
9 years ago
It is very important to see state schools like Oratory continue to compete on the domestic circuit. Britain is well represented at international level, but we don’t want rowing opportunities to be confined to private school pupils.
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Christopher Grant
9 years ago
Ibrowed at the school for a number of years and consider it some of my happiest times. Do not make the terrible decision to end something that truly can be life changing for students.
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Peter Best
9 years ago
Please reconsider your decision
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
Such a life and character enhancing sport should not be the preserve of public schools. If the money has been raised to allow this to continue and options to continue it explored, it seems short-sighted and churlish not to allow this to happen.
As a rower, coach, and parent who has seen what rowing can do for young men and women, I'd urge reconsideration.
A
Austin Whitehead
9 years ago
Previous LOS student and member of LOSRC. I and many others benefitted from rowing at the school. We must find a way to keep LOSRC going!
A
Alessandro Cattani
9 years ago
Great to have got in the boat while at LOS. The school actually had a strong rowing team too, why get rid of it? Obviously the students are making an effort in being good at it and are enjoying it.
A
Anatole Beams
9 years ago
It would be a sad loss for LOSBC to close. I am amazed that the school does not value this facility enough to keep it running. It has a much envied position of being able to run it very cheaply that should not just be thrown away.
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George Murdoch
9 years ago
Via PTRC I know a number of ex-LORS rowers who have become successful businessmen and quality rowers at senior level. For this reason I think the school should continue to provide rowing for those who want it from a junior age, even if it does need to be paid for, I think most parents would be prepared to contribute..
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Frank Raschke
9 years ago
helped out in coaching a few times. good fun for all. Also the school is highly competitive in a tough field. good reflection on the school and all involved
As a rower for the past eight years, I can't express how much rowing has come to mean to me. It's more than just a sport, I'd call it an obsession. It's a sport in which I'm willing to sacrifice those hours of sleep (which are hard to come by as a double engineering major student), suffer through all those hours of pain, and put in countless hours alone training outside of the standard team practices. Quite honestly, rowing is something that is much more than a sport to me, it's something much bigger than I can even describe. It's how I've come to know my greatest friends - people that will stand beside me (and sit in the boat behind me) until the day I die. It is not often in life that one finds a group of people as dedicated to each other as rowers are, and I have found those I befriended and have learned to lead on the team are among the greatest men and women I grew up with. I wholeheartedly support this team, and hope for the best for those interested.
My son Marc has benefitted enormously from rowing and the fantastic support he got from coaches and teammates at LOSBC. It would be a terrible shame to destroy the result of all this hard work and commitment from students, parents and teachers over the years. The boat club is a fantastic example of the broad education our children receive at the London Oratory School
I support the petition to keep rowing at the school
Ex-Captain, Commercial Rowing Club, Dublin
I have been involved in Rowing for 45 years and, during that time have had the privilege and honour to represent my country as an athlete and coach. Like many young people, I found that ball games were not for me. Rowing gave me the opportunity to excel in a sport where dedication, commitment and hard work are essential ingredients to success. There is a definite correlation between success on the river and achievement in the classroom. The existence of a school boat club is an asset not to be cast aside lightly. It will bring far more to the educational table than many other activities.
The sport of rowing at LOS is so inclusive and creates a community for those not great at rugby (or even those who are!) to be involved in competitive sport and this is why the boat club has had such success. I myself was a chubby little kid who wouldnt even be considered for sport at LOS and had no motivation or belief that I could be good at sport yet a year later I was competing for gold medals. Before rowing I achieved average grades, when I started I transformed as a student to getting mostly A*s. That's what the sport of rowing can do for the school and to be so ignorant to even consider closing the boat club restricts and, in my opinion, robs so many students' potentials both in the sport and at the school, which would be a crying shame.
For shame.
Rowing so good for all involved- def not a waste of money or time - sport for a lifetime of health and fitness
Too much passion and funds put into this to lose it all now !!!!!!!
Please leave it.
It is very important to see state schools like Oratory continue to compete on the domestic circuit. Britain is well represented at international level, but we don’t want rowing opportunities to be confined to private school pupils.
Ibrowed at the school for a number of years and consider it some of my happiest times. Do not make the terrible decision to end something that truly can be life changing for students.
Please reconsider your decision
Such a life and character enhancing sport should not be the preserve of public schools. If the money has been raised to allow this to continue and options to continue it explored, it seems short-sighted and churlish not to allow this to happen. As a rower, coach, and parent who has seen what rowing can do for young men and women, I'd urge reconsideration.
Previous LOS student and member of LOSRC. I and many others benefitted from rowing at the school. We must find a way to keep LOSRC going!
Great to have got in the boat while at LOS. The school actually had a strong rowing team too, why get rid of it? Obviously the students are making an effort in being good at it and are enjoying it.
It would be a sad loss for LOSBC to close. I am amazed that the school does not value this facility enough to keep it running. It has a much envied position of being able to run it very cheaply that should not just be thrown away.
Via PTRC I know a number of ex-LORS rowers who have become successful businessmen and quality rowers at senior level. For this reason I think the school should continue to provide rowing for those who want it from a junior age, even if it does need to be paid for, I think most parents would be prepared to contribute..
helped out in coaching a few times. good fun for all. Also the school is highly competitive in a tough field. good reflection on the school and all involved
This would be a huge loss..