Can you tell us a bit about the Folkestone Sculling Academy and how it began?

Beach Sprints is set to make its Olympic debut at LA 2028, and Folkestone Sculling Academy was created to give local rowers access to this fast-growing side of the sport.It’s a really fun, high-energy format where you run 50 metres down the beach, jump into your boat, slalom out on the sea for 250 metres, turn 180 and row back, then sprint up the beach to hit the buzzer. It’s fast, exciting, and completely different from traditional rowing, and it’s exactly the kind of sport that grabs people’s attention. 

After earning a place on British Rowing’s Coach Development Programme and attending their national coaching conference, I was inspired by how the sport is evolving, with exciting new Olympic pathways opening up through coastal rowing. That energy, and the encouragement from other coaches and British Rowing, really lit the spark to create something new here in Folkestone.

Our first Beach Sprints regatta earlier this year was the biggest in the UK at the time, and the response from athletes and spectators was incredible – it proved that Sunny Sands is the perfect home for this exciting format of rowing. 
 

What inspired you to bring rowing and sculling opportunities to Folkestone?

Folkestone has everything you could want for Beach Sprints, abeautiful sheltered bay, perfect for spectating, easy access and a community that loves the sea. I wanted to make rowing accessible to everyone, not just those near rivers or big clubs. The sport can look intimidating from the outside, but once people try it, they’re hooked. It’s impossible not to smile while sprinting through the surf. Seeing people of all ages discover the sport and realise it could lead all the way to the Olympics is incredibly exciting – that’s what keeps us pushing forward. 

How has access to space through The Sports Trust helped you grow or deliver your programmes?

Having access to the boathouse space from The Sports Trust made everything possible. It gave us a home, somewhere to store boats safely, coach from, and build our programme.It’s not just a building; for us, it’s a launchpad. Without it, we couldn’t have started running sessions or growing the sport locally. It’s the foundation that will one day, hopefully, help someone from Folkestone reach the Olympic stage. 

What difference does having a partner organisation that believes in community sport make?

It makes all the difference. The Sports Trustdidn’t just give us space, they believed in what we were trying to do. That belief gives us credibility, confidence, and the freedom to grow. When a partner like The Sports Trust backs community sport, it creates a ripple effect. People see what’s possible and want to be part of it. Their support turns good ideas into real opportunities, and real opportunities into something the whole community can be proud of.