Dittons Skiff and Punting Club
Encyclopedia
Dittons Skiff and Punting Club (DSPC) or Dittons is an English skiff and punting club, which was founded in 1923. It is based on the River Thames
with a club and boat house at Thames Ditton
on the reach above Teddington Lock
. As well as taking part in regular skiff and punt racing competitions, crews from the club have established several rowing world records.
The club supports two traditional water sports - skiffing
and punting
. Skiff
s are traditional, stable wooden boats which are sculled with a pair of blades. Skiffs are raced at regatta
s run under the rules of the Skiff Racing Association
, and are used for leisure outings such as Thames meander
s. Punts are 2 ft and 1 ft racing punts. Punting is carried out competitively at regattas under the rules of the Thames Punting Club
. DSPC hosts the 120 year old Hampton Court and Dittons Regatta
, and also organises a club regatta in September, the Tiny and Nancy Knight long distance events and the Dittons Long Distance Singles event.
The club was founded in 1923 following a meeting of interested persons in Long Ditton Parish Hall. The club operated initially from a site in Ferry Road Thames Ditton and leased single and double skiffs and a number of punts from Turks Boatyard. In the early 1960s the club occupied Albany Cottage in Alexandra Road with a boatshed nearby. In 1996 the area was redeveloped and the dilapidated buildings were replaced by a new purpose built clubhouse and boatshed.
Several international and Olympic rowers have competed for the club including James Cracknell
, Mike Hart
, Sarah Winckless and Sally Andraea. The club provides support and coaching for all levels from beginner to advanced and has an active Junior section using rowing dinghies, skiffs and punts. Each Saturday outside the regatta season, the club organizes a handicapped Bridge
-to-Bridge
skiff race. The club colours are blue and gold.
Club members have undertaken several rowing challenges to enter the Guinness World Records
books. In 1988 a club crew established the record for rowing the length of the River Thames. This has been contested since and in 2004 a six person crew regained the record. In the following year a club member set the record for a single scull the length of the Thames. Other records achieved by the club include the record distance covered in rowing for 24 hours, and the record for rowing across the English Channel
. Club members formed part of the joint skiff clubs team that set the record for rowing from London to Paris in 1996. The club represents Elmbridge
in the Great River Race
.
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
with a club and boat house at Thames Ditton
Thames Ditton
Thames Ditton is a village in Surrey, England, bordering Greater London. It is situated 12.2 miles south-west of Charing Cross between the towns of Kingston upon Thames, Surbiton, Esher and East Molesey...
on the reach above Teddington Lock
Teddington Lock
Teddington Lock is a complex of three locks and a weir on the River Thames in England at Ham in the western suburbs of London. The lock is on the southern Surrey side of the river....
. As well as taking part in regular skiff and punt racing competitions, crews from the club have established several rowing world records.
The club supports two traditional water sports - skiffing
Skiffing
Skiffing refers to the sporting and leisure activity of rowing a Thames skiff. A Thames skiff is a traditional hand built clinker-built wooden craft of a design which has been seen on the River Thames and other waterways in England and other countries for nearly 200 years...
and punting
Punt (boat)
A punt is a flat-bottomed boat with a square-cut bow, designed for use in small rivers or other shallow water. Punting refers to boating in a punt. The punter generally propels the punt by pushing against the river bed with a pole...
. Skiff
Thames skiff
A Thames skiff is a traditional River Thames wooden rowing boat used for the activity of Skiffing. These boats evolved from Thames wherries in the Victorian era to meet a passion for river exploration and leisure outings on the water.-Construction of a skiff:...
s are traditional, stable wooden boats which are sculled with a pair of blades. Skiffs are raced at regatta
Regatta
A regatta is a series of boat races. The term typically describes racing events of rowed or sailed water craft, although some powerboat race series are also called regattas...
s run under the rules of the Skiff Racing Association
Skiff Racing Association
The Skiff Racing Association is the governing body in the United Kingdom for the sport of skiff racing. The SRA is affiliated to British Rowing...
, and are used for leisure outings such as Thames meander
Thames meander
Thames meander refers to a long-distance journey over all or part of the River Thames in England. Walking the Thames Path is itself a meander, but the term usually applies to journeys using other methods such as rowing, running, or swimming....
s. Punts are 2 ft and 1 ft racing punts. Punting is carried out competitively at regattas under the rules of the Thames Punting Club
Thames Punting Club
The Thames Punting Club is the governing body in England for the sport of punt racing.-History and constitution:Punting as a means of water travel has a long history in the United Kingdom and is now practiced recreationally on a number of rivers, being most obviously associated with Oxford and...
. DSPC hosts the 120 year old Hampton Court and Dittons Regatta
Hampton Court and Dittons Regatta
Hampton Court and Dittons Regatta is a regatta on the River Thames in England which takes place at Thames Ditton, Surrey beside Hampton Court Palace....
, and also organises a club regatta in September, the Tiny and Nancy Knight long distance events and the Dittons Long Distance Singles event.
The club was founded in 1923 following a meeting of interested persons in Long Ditton Parish Hall. The club operated initially from a site in Ferry Road Thames Ditton and leased single and double skiffs and a number of punts from Turks Boatyard. In the early 1960s the club occupied Albany Cottage in Alexandra Road with a boatshed nearby. In 1996 the area was redeveloped and the dilapidated buildings were replaced by a new purpose built clubhouse and boatshed.
Several international and Olympic rowers have competed for the club including James Cracknell
James Cracknell
James Cracknell, OBE is a British rowing champion and double Olympic gold medalist and adventurer. Cracknell is married to TV and radio presenter Beverley Turner; they have three children. In the New Year Honours List, 2004, he was appointed OBE for services to sport...
, Mike Hart
Michael Hart (rower)
Michael "Mike" John Hart is a British former rower who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics and in the 1976 Summer Olympics....
, Sarah Winckless and Sally Andraea. The club provides support and coaching for all levels from beginner to advanced and has an active Junior section using rowing dinghies, skiffs and punts. Each Saturday outside the regatta season, the club organizes a handicapped Bridge
Hampton Court Bridge
Hampton Court Bridge crosses the River Thames in England in a north to south direction between Hampton, Greater London and East Molesey, Surrey. It is on the reach above Teddington Lock and about hundred yards upstream of the bridge is Molesey Lock....
-to-Bridge
Kingston Bridge, London
Kingston Bridge is a road bridge at Kingston upon Thames in London, England, carrying the A308 across the River Thames. It joins the town centre of Kingston in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, to Hampton Court Park, Bushy Park, and the village of Hampton Wick in the London Borough of...
skiff race. The club colours are blue and gold.
Club members have undertaken several rowing challenges to enter the Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
books. In 1988 a club crew established the record for rowing the length of the River Thames. This has been contested since and in 2004 a six person crew regained the record. In the following year a club member set the record for a single scull the length of the Thames. Other records achieved by the club include the record distance covered in rowing for 24 hours, and the record for rowing across the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
. Club members formed part of the joint skiff clubs team that set the record for rowing from London to Paris in 1996. The club represents Elmbridge
Elmbridge
Elmbridge is a local government district and borough in Surrey, England. Its council is based in Esher. The district has only one civil parish, which is Claygate...
in the Great River Race
Great River Race
The Great River Race is an annual competition held on the River Thames for any traditional-style coxed boat propelled by oars or paddles.The competition was started in 1988 and covers a 21 mile course on the tidal Thames between Ham, London and Greenwich...
.