LESS than 10 months ago, the University of Worcester Rowing Club faced up to the biggest challenge in their history.

February saw the River Severn in Worcester rise to its highest levels since Environment Agency records began and the club’s riverside base was affected.

However, with the help of a social media campaign, clubs from around the world came forward to help.

Worcester not only recovered but turned 2013-14 into their most successful season and they started the new campaign in a similar vein.

President Charlotte Wilkes, a third-year student, said: “To complicate matters further, a protected tree right next to our boathouse fell and damaged even more of our fleet.

“When we were able to assess the damage, we found only three of our 15 boats had been unaffected by the floods.

“We had a massive amount of help from across the country and all over the world.

“Clubs from the USA and Germany helped us out when they heard about the campaign.

“We were offered kit, equipment and training facilities. Birmingham University were good enough to let us train on their lake, for example.

“What was really great to see was how everyone came together as a club.

“There was a real sense of teamwork and everyone supported the fundraising efforts in any way they could.”

Around £2,000 was raised, which helped pay for training elsewhere and buying new boats, resulting in a “smaller but better fleet”. Just a month after flood waters peaked, club crews won races and set course records at regattas across the region.

Their British Universities and Colleges Sport Championships performance was among the strongest in the club’s 10-year history.

This year saw the highest number of new students join the club and the fine performances continued with the men setting two new course records at Stourport.

Wilkes, who had not rowed before coming to university, added: “I’d almost go as far as to say that, in our case, the floods were a blessing in disguise.

“Everyone pulled together, both the rowing community and those within the club, and now we are back to being able to race competitively and perform well.

“We’d like to extend a huge thank-you to everyone who helped us out, particularly Kanghua and Oarsport, who really did help us get back on our feet.”