Sorry chaps, but rowing is not an “elitist” sport.
It is true that not many State schools offer rowing. I don’t think many ever did. I was fortunate enough to have attended a Direct Grant Grammar school (an animal, alas, long extinct) and we had a boathouse on the Thames. However, I also belonged to a rowing club, which still exists, and its fees for youngsters are very reasonable:
http://learc.org.uk/the-club/membershipfees/
I believe their fees are typical of run-of-the-mill clubs (we’re not talking about Leander here).Student membership, as you can see, is two quid a week, equivalent to one outing to MUFC according to mushroom’s figures. All sports cost money if you want to participate. Any youngster interested in rowing can do so for a very moderate outlay. A Big Mac or two may have to be forfeit in order to do so. Apart from the membership fee there are no ongoing costs apart from a bit of PE kit.
The main reason why few youngsters take part is that the sport requires a bit of application and it is seldom available on one’s doorstep. A son of one of my work colleagues belonged to a similar club when school age. He was bright and made it to Cambridge where he gained a place in the “Goldie” boat (the reserve University Boat Race team). He was not a toff, neither was his father, but he was determined and applied himself to what he wanted to do. That may be the drawback which prevents “working class” youngsters from rowing. They prefer to kick a ball around instead as it is more convenient. He is among the people to whom the undesirable Mr Oldfield directed his attention last year.