Leander Club Partnership

The input of young talent from The Henley College has been very important to Leander for the last ten years and we look forward to that strength of talent increasing in the years to come.

Leander Club and The Henley College are to strengthen their existing relationship with the introduction of an Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence. The premier rowing club in the world and the sixth form college have been in partnership for more than ten years.

A number of College students have since been part of Leander’s Development Academy Programme, and some have gone on to compete in the GB international team at Junior, U23 and Senior World Championships. Most notable among them has been Colin Smith, who went on to stroke the GB men’s eight to a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics.

The scheme is designed to meet the needs of 16-18 year olds who have a realistic potential to achieve excellence in their sport and are seeking to perform at the highest level as their main career goal. It is specifically designed for full-time students/rowers who have been identified by Leander Club.

The programme provides a structured training and development route for talented young rowers who have potential and ambition to represent GB on the Olympic stage or gain professional contracts, and takes about two years to complete. But, as organisers emphasise, it is not simply a qualification for rowing – it will reflect the range of skills, knowledge and performance criteria required in elite sport. The scheme also ensures that participants will gain the knowledge and skills required to have a successful career on, and off the water.

Leander will be providing these students with coaching by their highly qualified and experienced team, state-of-the-art boats and equipment, and excellent land training facilities, as well as physiotherapy and nutritional support.

Young rowers interested in the scheme are invited to email Ty Sterry via sports@henleycol.ac.uk

I have been fortunate to experience the peaks of sporting and scholarly achievement at the same time, and neither of these would have happened without the influence of The Henley College and Leander Club on me as a teenager.