PHOTOGRAPHY BENEDICT TUFNELL
One of the principal challenges of rowing is financial, and over the years British students have happened across a rather unusual method of keeping their cash-strapped boat clubs afloat: stripping naked.
For some clubs, their annual naked calendars have become an important source of revenue, and also proved an opportunity to make money for charity. The Warwick Rowers have established themselves as market leaders since they started selling in 2009, gaining a huge international following for their toned physiques, and the corresponding message of tackling homophobia in sport. This has won them the backing of such celebrities as Ian McKellen, and a following on Instagram pushing 75,000. But Warwick’s women’s calendars have caused controversy; last year the Warwick women’s calendar was accused of being ‘pornographic’, and removed from Facebook. Nonetheless, after getting the page reinstated, they successfully raised £12,000.