Reluctant role model Amelia Wright tells of club’s battle to make sport open to all. Jaine Blackman reports

Could we shift the story completely off me, and onto these brilliant young people who prove that our next generation of adults is brimming with hard-working, responsible and community-minded people,” says Amelia Wright when I ask her about her life in rowing. The director of rowing at Hinksey Sculling School is very keen to promote the sport but modestly wants to keep a low profile.

However, there’s no denying that rowing has played a huge part in her own development and she is keen that all youngsters have the same opportunities to participate in a traditionally upper class pastime.

“I love the sport, I love to see what it can do for children and believe very passionately in Hinksey and what we are trying to achieve. It is thanks to clubs like Hinksey that the elitist attitude towards rowing is being broken down,” says Amelia, 31, who lives with husband Andrew in West Oxfordshire.

The sculling club is a charity which aims to open the sport to all.

“The club welcomes people from all social and cultural backgrounds and no child will ever miss out if they cannot afford the fees,” says Amelia.

“We have many bursary places for athletes whose families need financial support.

“We used to bring in children from as young as seven years old, as long as they could pass their swim test they could join.

“Now, with the growing numbers, we have had to put a minimum age on. Children can start at 11 years old, when they enter Year 7 at school. Our main difference is people may have to wait to join but we don’t say to no to anybody.”

As well as coaching, Amelia is responsible for the day to day management of the club and setting the vision for its athletes and coaches. It’s a full-time job and she often ends up working seven days a week.

But it’s clear it’s a passion, not a chore.

“I was lucky to be introduced to rowing at school at a very young age,” she says. “Rowing has always been an extremely important part of my life.”

Amelia learnt to row at The Dragon School, aged nine, and one of her first ever coaches was John Broadhurst, one of Hinksey’s founders.

She went on to compete at national level and qualified as an instructor.

After a break from rowing while she studied business and marketing at Oxford Brookes University, Amelia joined City of Oxford Rowing Club and became a professional coach.

For two years, from 2006, she also ran a company supplying rowing performance kit and casual clothes. “It was personally if not financially rewarding and fondly remembered,” she says.

But a “very special” high point was being asked to become director of rowing at Hinksey by John Broadhurst.

“He gave me an incredible opportunity to work with and help hundreds of young people throughout Oxfordshire and it is something I can be thankful for every day,” she says.

What upsets her is having to put children onto a waiting list as the club doesn’t have enough space or resources. It is currently trying to raise money for an “eight”.

“For the first time in Hinksey’s history we have enough talented girls and a large enough girls squad to run an eight. An eight is the fastest and largest boat type in rowing seating eight athletes plus a cox and some would say this boat type is the most exciting,” says Amelia.

“We are now about 50/50 girls and boys. We used to have far more boys in the club but with the success of the GB Women’s Rowing Squad, especially at the London 2012 Olympics, we have seen a large increase in the number of girls wanting to row.”

The club has been lent an eight by Oarsport, a boat manufacturer, but needs to pay for the £18,000 boat in full by the end of July or give it back.

“If we are unable to keep the boat we would find it hard to keep the number of girls we have at our club,” she says.

Amelia is a great cheerleader for the club and the youngsters involved with it.

“These kids are brilliant, focused, determined and hungry for success,” she says. “I feel very proud to be involved with such a wonderful club and to be working with so many talented and dedicated coaches, athletes and supportive parents.

“Here’s to a great 2013-2014 season for Hinksey and everyone involved in the very important role it plays in our sport and our local community.”

More information at hinkseysculling.org.uk