Warrington rowers earn University of Tulsa scholarships

However, a strong bond between them is forming through the medium of rowing as two of the town’s most talented youngsters prepare to make the journey to Oklahoma in the new year.

Cam Nyland and Iffy Marinos – both of whom have progressed through the ranks at Warrington Rowing Club – have both earned scholarships to study and row for the University of Tulsa across the pond.

They will be joining fellow Warringtonian Ella Stanhope, who is already studying and rowing at Tulsa for the last few years.

Former Lymm High School pupil Nyland will start her masters course next month, with ex-Sir Thomas Boteler High School student Marinos heading to America in the summer.

Kevin Harris – head coach of Tulsa’s women’s rowing programme – was quick to pay tribute to their development through both Warrington Rowing Club as well as the Warrington Youth Rowing programme.

“We send our assistant coaches out to find great athletes. In this case, one of our former assistants made a relationship with Warrington and it’s been a very fruitful one for us,” he told the Guardian.

“She is the one who identified Cam and Iffy as potential rowers for Tulsa.

“Warrington is such a brilliant programme. They have done a fantastic job at creating a youth programme that is good for the town and for the young athletes that go there.

“Beyond that and maybe with that, they are just really great people.

“We look at the skill level – to see how they’ve done at British Championships or at Henley – but more important is the character we see, how aware they are of this opportunity and how much they want that opportunity.

“What we see in the Warrington athletes is a very good work ethic. They love to be in boats and be in the weight room.

“They’re very humble about their accomplishments – they’ve been a very successful club but it’s not something they hit you with.

“They always look to get better and that fits very well at the University of Tulsa.”

“Our motto is “One Team, One Goal, One Family” and that kind of attitude from our athletes comes here and makes us better.”

Marinos’ recruitment is a particular feather in the cap for Warrington Youth Rowing – a charity that works with high schools across the town to give students a chance to learn a skill they perhaps would not have had access to otherwise.

Ex-Sir Thomas Boteler High School student Iffy Marinos has earned a rowing scholarship at the University of Tulsa

Having first picked up a pair of oars while in Year Nine, her talent quickly became obvious.

She won a scholarship to train at Eton College over the summer holidays in 2020 and earlier this year, she took part in trials for the junior Great Britain team.

“The whole of the Boteler Family are incredibly proud of Iffy,” said Beverley Scott-Herron, her former high school headteacher.

“To think that it was through a project at school that she first got the experience of rowing and to see what she has now achieved is just amazing.

“The outreach programme that Warrington Youth Rowing run in our school and most of the secondary schools in town has had a huge impact on Iffy, the school and our students.

“Iffy is a prime example of what can be achieved by working in partnership.

“It was clear from early on that Iffy had a real talent and for that to be nurtured and fostered has really helped her develop.

“She has grown in confidence and has real ambition and drive.”

Iffy’s story is one of particular pride for Warrington Youth Rowing’s Richard Sinnott.

He said: “She has grown from a very shy girl to a young lady that exudes confidence in her ability.

“She will be such a great asset to Tulsa.”

For Nyland, her path to international recognition has been pretty well set for a while even despite some grave misfortune along the way.

Cam Nyland - formerly of Lymm High School - is also heading to Tulsa

Having been chosen to represent Great Britain at the World under 23s Championships in July, she was then identified as a close contact of a positive Covid-19 case and despite negative tests, she was forced to miss the event.

She put that behind her, however, with an excellent run at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta in August.

Rowing alongside Sarah Ferris, Nyland reached the semi-finals of the Stonor Challenge Trophy and the pair were only beaten by eventual winners Imogen Grant and Emily Craig, who had just come fourth for Team GB in the lightweight double sculls at the Olympic Games.

“Cam is already on the GB path and that’s all Warrington,” Harris said.

“Except for an unfortunate Covid situation, she would have been at under 23 worlds. She was able to go to the Europeans but it’s not quite the same experience.

“She had an amazing run at Henley – it was good for me to watch that as it affirmed that we’d recruited a very good rower.”

Having grown in the Warrington junior system under the guidance of Sinnott and fellow coach Pete Tamblin, Nyland also worked for Warrington Youth Rowing as a coach whilst she was training and finishing her degree.

Warrington’s reputation for producing elite rowers is growing – with Lucy Glover joining Richard Eggington at Olympic level, there have now been Warrington rowers at three of the last four Olympic Games.

As well as these two, Olivia Oakes, Ella Stanhope and Helen Brown have all emerged through the club to represent Great Britain.

With Nyland and Marinos well on the path to joining them, could more of Warrington’s youngsters join them at Tulsa in the future?

“We hope that we’ll be welcome back in the area,” Harris said.

“We love our rowers from northern England as they look at the volume of work and they think “okay, let’s do it.”

“For us, it’s a no-brainer for us to try and recruit more athletes from Warrington.”

Sinnott confirmed that the relationship with Tulsa will be one that Warrington will be keen on strengthening.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for our athletes – they get to study and carry on with the sport they love,” he said.

“They also emerge from university with a degree and no student debt – it has to be good news for all parties.”