Grosvenor Rowing Club is based on the Groves in Chester

Chester

Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...

. It rows on the River Dee

River Dee, Wales

The River Dee is a long river in the United Kingdom. It travels through Wales and England and also forms part of the border between the two countries....

 and has around 30 km of rowable river at its disposal.

The club colours are blue and gold, the blades and boats being blue and orange.

History

The club was formed in 1869 to enable the less fortunate people of Chester to take up the sport of rowing. The club's crest states "Virtus non stemma

Virtus non stemma

Virtus non stemma is Latin for "Valor, not garland". This is the Duke of Westminster's motto at his stately home in Eaton. The motto means, less literally: Courage, not pomp. The Duke also has many stately homes with the same motto...

" which translates to "Valor, not garland" or "Virtue, not pedigree" (This is derived from the motto of the Duke of Westminster

Duke of Westminster

The title Duke of Westminster was created by Queen Victoria in 1874 and bestowed upon Hugh Grosvenor, 3rd Marquess of Westminster. The current holder of the title is Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster....

's (Earl Grosvenor) Eaton Hall home, which is further up the River Dee

River Dee, Wales

The River Dee is a long river in the United Kingdom. It travels through Wales and England and also forms part of the border between the two countries....

. The motto also sums up the open membership of the club since its inauguration; originally contradictory to the membership of the close by Royal Chester Rowing Club which was traditionally home to the alumni of the public King's School

The King's School, Chester

The King's School, Chester is a British coeducational independent 7-18 school situated just outside the city of Chester. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference....

.
Grosvenor is named in honour of the Grosvenor family who own the land on which the club is built. The club names its VIIIs after members of the Grosvenor family.

Recent success

Grosvenor's first VIII finished 14th at the 2008 Head of the River Race

Horr

Horr was a book by the Iranian author Ali Shariati about the historic Battle of Karbala in which Hussein, the grandson of the Muslim prophet Muhammad, was killed by Yazid . Horr was a commander of the army of the Caliph Yazid during the battle...

 after starting 153rd, beaten narrowly to the Jackson Trophy (Cup for British non-tideway clubs) by 5 seconds by Agecroft Rowing Club

Agecroft Rowing Club

Agecroft Rowing Club currently operates from Salford Quays, England.- History :There has been rowing in Manchester and Salford since 1823, with more than 15 clubs operating during the 1860s. Agecroft R.C. was formed by the gradual merging of these River Irwell-based clubs. Agecroft R.C...

 who finished 11th after starting 37th.

In the same year the first VIII reached the quarter finals of the Thames Challenge Cup

Thames Challenge Cup

The Thames Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's eights at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from a single rowing club. Boat clubs from any university, college or secondary school are not permitted, neither are squad...

 at Henley Royal Regatta

Henley Royal Regatta

Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...

 further emulating the club's successes at the 2007 regatta.

In 2007 Grosvenor's Coxless Four (IV-) which reached the semi-finals at Henley Royal Regatta

Henley Royal Regatta

Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...

 in the Wyfold Challenge Cup

Wyfold Challenge Cup

The Wyfold Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's coxless fours at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from a single rowing club. Boat clubs from any university, college or secondary school are not permitted.The trophy...

. They beat London RC 'D', Reading RC and Sydney RC then being knocked out by the eventual winners 1829 Boat Club, who went on to beat London RC 'A'.