ROWING: NORTHWICH Rowing Club coach Paul Rafferty reports his Mission Impossible is now merely Mission Implausible.

He is two months into a unique challenge and things are obviously improving.

Rafferty, who launched Matthew Langridge towards the Olympics and a professional career, is coaching a squad of Liverpudlians, none of whom had ever been in a boat before, to qualify for Henley Regatta.

It is a six-day-a-week mission for the 56-year-old Hartford man who was specially selected for the task by TV company Outline. They are turning the whole experience into four one-hour programmes to be broadcast in September.

'When they told me what they wanted I thought it was impossible, but now I just think it's bloody difficult,' he said.

Olympic legend Steve Redgrave is heavily involved in the project and producer Chris Hall said: 'Steve thinks Raff is a great coach and that is one of the reasons why we chose him.

'He has also got an amazing amount of experience and works brilliantly with young people.

'We needed someone who could pull it off in just seven months.'

Rafferty is being assisted by Chester's Paul Turner and fitness coach John O'Brien, from Liverpool, with the training and practice in the Mersey Docks, with Liverpool Victoria RC providing the base.

Some 230 men aged between 17 and 26 turned up at Liverpool Town Hall in December, from which 40 were selected.

After Sunday's England Indoor Championships at Manchester the number was being cut to 20. Then it will be 16 and 12, from which an eight will be drawn to contest - hopefully - the Thames Cup at Henley in June.

Hall added: 'You can help people make a difference in their lives if you allow them to be committed. We have a good cross section of society and they are getting a hell of a lot out of it.'

Rafferty, who had just retired from a career in electronics and now finds himself working harder than ever, said: 'If we were at a big London club and asked to prepare a group of novices for the same event it would take two years.

'We're doing this in seven months, if we qualify, but we are training full-time. We've got boxers, university graduates, unemployed, rugby players - the lot. None has even been in a boat or even sat on a rowing machine.

'There are some promising signs now. But it is one hell of a challenge.'

Northwich crews rarely qualify for Henley, though Rafferty himself rowed there as part of a four in 1972.

'Steve Redgrave is spending two days a week with us, had an input at the selection, had brought his medals and, of course has made a big impact. He is good to work with.

'We've got to succeed yet, of course. Some days they are diamonds, some days stone,' he said.

Rafferty has been coaching for 10 years with Langridge, who rowed in a double at the Athens Olympics, his and Northwich's greatest success.

Langridge has been along to Liverpool Docks to see what his mentor is up to.

Though international entries are not allowed in the Thames Cup and assuming the boat qualifies then Rafferty's eight could draw a crack crew from far and wide. They would only need to win four races to get to the final!