Seeing double as rowing twins team up in sculls

Spectators of rowing could be forgiven for doing a double-take at some recent youth events — thanks to young twin brothers competing in the double sculls.

Wolf and Milo Kelso, 13, row with Upper Thames Rowing Club and in July claimed victory in the J13 double sculls event at Staines Regatta.

In their last outing at Oxford City Royal Regatta on Saturday, the pair went down to Wallingford Rowing Club in the J14 event — but that was probably because they had been bumped up an age category and were competing against rowers who were one year older and about a foot taller than they are.

Wolf and Milo, from Bledlow, started rowing at Upper Thames three years ago. The brothers used to attend Summer Fields School in Oxford, and will be starting at Abingdon School in September in the hopes of joining the school’s eight crew in the future.

They were encouraged by their father, Stephen, 52, who started rowing in Belfast and has rowed for more than 40 years.

Milo said: “We started off with 250 metres as quickly as possible, and when we were 12 years old, we stepped it up to 1km. Now, we are doing 4km and it’s got a lot easier.

“When we have exams, we’re not out as much as we would want to be, but in the holidays we’re out about three or four times a week. During the winter, we don’t go out much because the river is closed or we have school on a Saturday.”

They have been encouraged by Upper Thames captain Nick Horne and vice-president Justin Sutherland and coached by Julie Hogg from City of Cambridge Club and Henry Bailhache-Webb, a head coach and the director of rowing at Oxford Brookes University.

Wolf said racing against older and taller rowers can be intimidating, but remembering what they have been taught by their coaches helps to keep them motivated. He said: “Sometimes we have races against people who are younger in the first heats, and we get encouraged. In later heats, they’re usually much taller and have hit puberty and have stubble.

“We do get discouraged because you look at them and think, ‘How could we possibly beat them?’

“When we get bumped up into the next age category too, like last weekend, it can be scary because it feels like our chances have gone and we’re going to lose. We just try to think about our training, but when you get to the line and you realise they’re taller, it can be disheartening.”

Certain techniques, which their coaches have taught them, allow them to keep morale high during races.

Milo said: “We usually have an advantage at the start, using a technique which Julie taught us.

“With Henry, we swapped that for a different technique where we push hard for the last 100m and try to use our stamina to stay with them and to try to push past, even if we’re behind.

“When they’re getting tired, hearing someone say, ‘Up two’ makes you want to push more, so we try to call that lots in the last 150m and try to go flat out to try and win.”

Mr Kelso says it is encouraging to see the boys work together.

He said: “Physiologically they’re the same and of course, if you are a twin, you’re probably in the same programme, which helps mentally and physically.

“Growing up, they were beating each other day in day out, but what rowing has taught them to do is to pull together, and that’s really rewarding because I can see them reaffirming each other positively for the outcome they want to happen.”