Sunshine, Sculling, and Smiles: Row the Rhythm Festival Brings Clubs Together
Peterborough City Rowing Club was bursting with energy and sunshine on Friday 25 July, as it hosted the first ever Row the Rhythm Festival—a celebration of inclusive rowing that brought together over 60 people from across the country, including 20 visually impaired rowers, volunteer coaches, family members, and supporters.
The event marked a milestone moment for Row the Rhythm, a growing programme supported by Love Rowing, British Rowing’s charitable foundation, which aims to make rowing accessible for blind and partially sighted adults. The festival was the first time that all three clubs currently hosting Row the Rhythm—Peterborough City RC, Leicester RC, and Fulham Reach BC—came together in one place.
Among the attendees was Ellen Buttrick MBE, Love Rowing Trustee and Paralympic gold medallist, who spent the day meeting participants and showing her support for the initiative.
“It’s fantastic to see how much this programme has grown,” she said. “Row the Rhythm is about so much more than rowing—it’s about community, confidence, and making the sport we love open to everyone.”
Attendees at the Row the Rhythm Festival – 25 July 2025
The warm, windless conditions made for ideal rowing weather, and for many participants it was their first time ever rowing in a single scull. Used to crew rowing in doubles or quads, several visually impaired rowers described the experience as liberating.
“Being in a single was amazing,” said one rower from Fulham Reach. “It felt like freedom—just me and the water. I didn’t have to rely on anyone else. I didn’t expect to love it so much.”
Others enjoyed outings in doubles and the club quad, supported by a team of experienced volunteers and coaches who ensured the day ran smoothly, safely, and with lots of encouragement. The aim was simple: to give everyone a chance to enjoy the water, try something new, and meet rowers from other clubs who share a passion for the sport.
After the morning sessions, everyone gathered for a relaxed lunch in the sunshine, with plenty of laughter and shared stories. Many visitors expressed a keen interest in returning to Peterborough in the future, especially those who had rowed on the lake for the first time.
The event was organised and hosted by Kate Lindgren, co-lead of Row the Rhythm and a blind sculler herself, along with her long-time coach Pete Forrest, who was recently named British Rowing’s Inclusive Coach of the Year.
Both were widely thanked at the end of the day for their tireless work in making the festival such a success, and for their leadership in growing Row the Rhythm from a single club initiative to a national programme changing lives across the country.
“We wanted today to be about connection and confidence,” said Pete. “To see people trying singles for the first time, smiling, laughing, making friends—that’s what it’s all about. A huge thank you to all those who supported the day.”
Andrew and Dave at the Row the Rhythm Festival – 25 July 2025
As the last boats were put away and guests prepared to leave, the atmosphere remained upbeat. One visitor summed it up best:
“This was one of the best days I’ve had in ages. I’ve never felt so included—and I can’t wait to do it again.”
With new clubs continuing to join the Row the Rhythm family, and more events planned, the spirit of Friday’s festival is sure to ripple far beyond Peterborough.