Teessiders will soon be able to learn to paddle indoors – and then take to the Tees for real and try paddling for their local club – thanks to a new National Lottery-funded project.
Powerhouse Dragonboat Club will be holding weekly ‘come and try’ coaching sessions at the River Tees Watersports Centre, followed by open water training in a full size Dragonboat. The sessions are intended to attract more people to the club – ahead of the 2012 season.
The new sporting opportunities have been made possible by a £9,000 grant from Sport England – which is working with local communities to get people playing more sport.
Bryan Tucker, Powerhouse Dragonboat Club's Assistant Coach, said:
“Powerhouse Dragonboat Club is a vibrant local club but we’re always looking to attract more members. Our project is opening up our club and giving people in Teesside the opportunity to get involved no matter what the weather throws at us. We’re delighted to have received Lottery funding to make it all happen.”
Sport England invests National Lottery and Exchequer funding in projects that will grow and sustain participation in grassroots sport and create opportunities for people to excel at their chosen sport.
David Gent, Sport England’s Regional Lead for Yorkshire, said:
“The opportunity to try a new sport for the first time is often all a person needs to catch the sporting bug. The Paddlesports Coaching Project is a great way for young people to try Dragonboating and get a quality sporting experience that will encourage them to stay involved.”
