Three female rowing medallists started at small club with no clubhouse
Three of Britain's top female Olympians were all taught to row at the same small club in Bath.
Three of Britain's top female Olympians were all taught to row at the same small club in Bath.
The double Olympic champions, Helen Glover and Lossiemouth's Heather Stanning, and silver medal winner Vicky Thornley first took up the sport at Minerva Bath Rowing Club on the River Avon.
Even though Minerva only has a boatshed and does not even have a clubhouse, it has not prevented it from producing three of Britain's greatest ever female rowers.
Glover and Thornley's potential was first spotted in the Sporting Giants talent scheme a decade ago and together with Stanning all three were placed in the GB Rowing Team's Start programme at Minerva.
Club chairman Jane Giddins was with other members watching the final at the nearby Boathouse pub.
"We are seriously proud of them all. It is an incredible achievement," she said.
"We were all in such a state because as we all race we were feeling so nervous at the start.
"They could have lost it at point until the finish line. It's not over until it's over and you know at that point every bit of their body will be screaming for mercy and they are so exhausted.
"We were all screaming at the television to keep going. We know how much work they have put in over the years.
"Women's rowing gets better every year and they were up against some very good crews who pushed them to the absolute limit, so it's a huge achievement.
"We are a very small club with no clubhouse and we are still rowing in the boats that Helen and Heather learned to row in, which are now very ancient.
"It just goes to show that facilities are great but people can just get started at their local club and if you put the effort in great things can happen."
Mrs Giddins said this year's Olympic triumphs would really put rowing on the map.
"I can't tell you what their achievement has done for women's rowing and women's sport in general," she said.
"I started rowing at the end of the 1970s and rowing wasn't even an Olympic sport for women until 1976.
"I think for many people the image of a rower is someone who is of a young man from a posh school and the fact that now you have Katherine Grainger winning at 41 and I'm 56 and I'm still competing.
"I think it is so empowering for girls and women all over the country to see that these women are really good at sport and can win."
Mrs Giddins said that unlike sports such golf and tennis, people can begin rowing later in life and can still be successful.
"Helen was 22 and it's extraordinary that she went from never having been in a boat - despite being incredibly fit and a national runner and hockey player - to 12 months later winning at the Henley Regatta," Mrs Giddins said.
"She trained for six hours a day while still working as a teacher and really put the time in.
"As a club we are promoting the message that you don't have to be 18 to start rowing as it is a fantastic sport for older people.
"Rowing, like cycling, is a low impact sport and it is a brilliant sport for older people, especially women."