In June 2016 Ben Dunne, then Principal at Penketh High School, and Richard Sinnott of Warrington Rowing Club (WRC), came up with a plan. The aim was simple…

To engage with local pupils who would not normally have access to rowing and take them on a sporting journey with the ambition to change their lives.

The plan neatly coincided with initiatives that were being worked up by British Rowing (BR) and Henley Royal Regatta Charitable Trust (HRRCT). These ideas fermented into reality and in September 2016, Phil Lyons began his two years as an HSCT Coach, based at Warrington Rowing Club.

All Aboard Youth Rowing (originally called Warrington Youth Rowing) was founded by Ben Dunne, then Principal at Penketh High School and Richard Sinnott of Warrington Rowing Club in 2016 in the hope that they could engage with local pupils across Warrington giving them access to rowing, taking them on a sporting journey with the ambition to change their lives.

With support from British Rowing (BR) and Henley Regatta Charitable Trust (HRRCT) the WYR dream was turned into a reality. What started as a project involving eight local high schools and one dedicated coach, Phil Lyons, quickly transformed into a scheme involving 35 schools and over 30 coaches across 6 sites in the North West.