Hampton School Boat Club
Encyclopedia
Hampton School Boat Club is the rowing
club of Hampton School
. Each year the club produces 1st VIIIs that compete at Championship level in the United Kingdom
. The club hosts two Head race
events each year. The club was founded in 1956 and has its own boat house on the River Thames
on the reach above Molesey Lock
.
, on the River Thames
near Hampton Court Palace
. In 2000 the club's Millennium
Boathouse was opened a few kilometres upstream close to the upstream end of Platts Eyot
.
The land it was built on was originally owned by Thames Water
and construction of the boathouse was a joint project with the Lady Eleanor Holles School
Boat Club. In 2000 the boathouse was opened by Sir Steve Redgrave and Dr Ann Redgrave.
.
s and regatta
s throughout the year including the Armada Cup in Switzerland
, the Schools' Head Of the River Race
and the The National Schools Regatta
. The 1st VIII will also compete in the prestigious Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup
at Henley Royal Regatta
, and the 2nd VIII will sometimes attempt to qualify for the Temple Challenge Cup
.
trials to try to represent their country at the following events:
Hampton has been represented at most Junior World Rowing Championships since the event's creation.
season; Hampton Small Boats Head (the most popular head race of the year); and Hampton Fours and Eights Head.
Each race is over the same distance of roughly 3 km, raced downstream from just below Sunbury Lock
to the finish, roughly 50 metres downstream of Platts Eyot
.
At each event competitors and spectators are invited to Molesey Boat Club after the races for teas and cakes before the prize-giving.
Many rowers from Hampton have also gone on to compete at international levels and in recent years Hamptonians have consistently competed for Oxford and Cambridge in the Boat Race
; in 2003 two sets of Hamptonian brothers (James and David Livingston, Matthew and Ben Smith) competed.
Two of Hampton's most successful rowers are undoubtedly brothers Jonny Searle
and Greg Searle
who went on to win the gold medal (together with cox Garry Herbert) in the coxed pair in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics
.
Sport rowing
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
club of Hampton School
Hampton School
Hampton School is an independent boys' day school in Hampton, London, England.-History:In 1556, Robert Hammond, a wealthy brewer who had acquired property in Hampton, left in his will provision for the maintenance of a 'free scole' and to build a small schoolhouse 'with seates in yt' in the...
. Each year the club produces 1st VIIIs that compete at Championship level in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The club hosts two Head race
Head race
A head race is a time-trial competition in the sport of rowing, also known as crew to a few USA organizations. Head races are typically held in the fall and spring seasons. These events draw many athletes as well as observers...
events each year. The club was founded in 1956 and has its own boat house on the River Thames
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,...
on the reach above Molesey Lock
Molesey Lock
Molesey Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England at East Molesey, Surrey. It is near Hampton Court Palace to the west of London.The lock was built by the City of London Corporation in 1815 and is the second longest on the river at over 268 ft . Beside the lock there are rollers for the...
.
Boathouse
For many years HSBC was based at Molesey Boat ClubMolesey Boat Club
Molesey Boat Club is a rowing club on the river Thames in England.-Location:The Club is situated on a stretch of the River Thames between Molesey Lock and Sunbury Lock...
, on the River Thames
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,...
near Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Greater London; it has not been inhabited by the British royal family since the 18th century. The palace is located south west of Charing Cross and upstream of Central London on the River Thames...
. In 2000 the club's Millennium
Millennium
A millennium is a period of time equal to one thousand years —from the Latin phrase , thousand, and , year—often but not necessarily related numerically to a particular dating system....
Boathouse was opened a few kilometres upstream close to the upstream end of Platts Eyot
Platts Eyot
Platts Eyot is an island on the River Thames at Hampton, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England, on the reach between Molesey Lock and Sunbury Lock....
.
The land it was built on was originally owned by Thames Water
Thames Water
Thames Water Utilities Ltd, known as Thames Water, is the private utility company responsible for the public water supply and waste water treatment in large parts of Greater London, the Thames Valley, Surrey, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Kent, and some other areas of in the United Kingdom...
and construction of the boathouse was a joint project with the Lady Eleanor Holles School
Lady Eleanor Holles School
The Lady Eleanor Holles School is an independent school for girls in Hampton, London, England. The school was founded in 1711.-Admissions:...
Boat Club. In 2000 the boathouse was opened by Sir Steve Redgrave and Dr Ann Redgrave.
Rowing at Hampton
Rowing at Hampton School is open to boys in the third year and above, and is split into three sections:J14s
Third year rowers. Hampton schoolboys can join the boat club from the third year onwards. In the J14 year boys learn to scull and the emphasis is on training to improve technique, flexibility and fitness rather than competing. One week in Easter is spent as a training camp at the Millennium boathouse. During the year, the rowers showing the most promise are selected in crews for Hampton School's own rowing competition Hampton Head as well as various other events including Peterborough regatta and the National rowing championshipsNational rowing championships
The British Rowing Championships takes place every year. In general, once every four years the event is held at Strathclyde Country Park, the other three years it is held at the National Water Sports Centre, Holme Pierrepont...
.
J15s
Fourth year rowers. In the J15 year boys begin learning sweep-oar rowing and selection begins for J15 'A', 'B' and 'C' eights. This year is aimed as preparation for rowing in the 'A' squad, and the crews will compete at many of the same races as the 'A' squad, with the main competitions being the Schools' Head Of the River Race and the National Schools' Regatta.The 'A' squad
Fifth and sixth form rowers. The 'A' squad is made up of the oldest rowers in the school and is the squad from which the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th VIIIs are selected. The 'A' squad travel to many head raceHead race
A head race is a time-trial competition in the sport of rowing, also known as crew to a few USA organizations. Head races are typically held in the fall and spring seasons. These events draw many athletes as well as observers...
s and 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 throughout the year including the Armada Cup in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, the Schools' Head Of the River Race
Schools' Head of the River Race
The Schools' Head of the River Race is a processional rowing race organised by Westminster School, held annually on the River Thames in London, England, on the 4¼ mile Championship Course from Mortlake to Putney....
and the The National Schools Regatta
The National Schools Regatta
The National Schools Regatta is the largest regatta for juniors in Great Britain. Held annually in May the three day regatta offers events for junior rowers between J14 and J18.-History:...
. The 1st VIII will also compete in the prestigious Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup
Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup
The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup is a rowing event at Henley Royal Regatta open to school 1st VIIIs.-History:The event was instituted in 1946 for public schools in the United Kingdom...
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...
, and the 2nd VIII will sometimes attempt to qualify for the Temple Challenge Cup
Temple Challenge Cup
The Temple Challenge Cup is one of the eights races at Henley Royal Regatta at Henley-on-Thames on the River Thames in England. It is open to male crews from universities, colleges or schools. Combined entries from two colleges of the same university, or from different schools, are allowed...
.
International representations
In addition to racing in the school eights, the top 'A' squad rowers each year compete at Great BritainGreat Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
trials to try to represent their country at the following events:
- Munich International Regatta
- Home Countries International RegattaHome Countries International RegattaThe Home International Regatta is a rowing regatta held every year for the countries of the British Isles - England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Events are held for both men and women at junior and senior levels...
- Coupe de la JeunesseCoupe de la JeunesseThe Coupe de la Jeunesse, is an international rowing regatta rowed over 2,000 m every year. It was founded in 1985 and is open to rowers who are 18 or under by the end of the current calendar year. It is a two-day team event, with points awarded to nations based on finishing position in each...
- Junior World Rowing ChampionshipsJunior World Rowing ChampionshipsThe World Rowing Junior Championships is an international rowing regatta organized by FISA . A rower or coxswain shall be classified as a Junior until 31st December of the year in which he reaches the age of 18. After that date, he shall be classified as an Under 23 rower...
Hampton has been represented at most Junior World Rowing Championships since the event's creation.
Hampton Head
The boat club hosts two rowing events each year in the head raceHead race
A head race is a time-trial competition in the sport of rowing, also known as crew to a few USA organizations. Head races are typically held in the fall and spring seasons. These events draw many athletes as well as observers...
season; Hampton Small Boats Head (the most popular head race of the year); and Hampton Fours and Eights Head.
Each race is over the same distance of roughly 3 km, raced downstream from just below Sunbury Lock
Sunbury Lock
Sunbury Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England near Walton-on-Thames in north-west Surrey. The lock adjoins the southern bank about half a mile downstream of the Weir Hotel....
to the finish, roughly 50 metres downstream of Platts Eyot
Platts Eyot
Platts Eyot is an island on the River Thames at Hampton, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England, on the reach between Molesey Lock and Sunbury Lock....
.
At each event competitors and spectators are invited to Molesey Boat Club after the races for teas and cakes before the prize-giving.
Successes
Hampton has produced three treble winning 1st VIIIs in its history: 1985, 1986 and 1988. In 2004 Hampton won 1st, 2nd and 3rd VIIIs at the Schools' Head of the River Race.Many rowers from Hampton have also gone on to compete at international levels and in recent years Hamptonians have consistently competed for Oxford and Cambridge in the Boat Race
The Boat Race
The event generally known as "The Boat Race" is a rowing race in England between the Oxford University Boat Club and the Cambridge University Boat Club, rowed between competing eights each spring on the River Thames in London. It takes place generally on the last Saturday of March or the first...
; in 2003 two sets of Hamptonian brothers (James and David Livingston, Matthew and Ben Smith) competed.
Two of Hampton's most successful rowers are undoubtedly brothers Jonny Searle
Jonny Searle
Jonathan William C. Searle MBE is a British rower. Along with his brother Gregory, and coxswain Garry Herbert, Searle won the gold medal in the coxed pair event at the Olympic Games in Barcelona....
and Greg Searle
Greg Searle
Gregory Mark Pascoe Searle MBE is a British Olympic rower educated at Hampton School and London South Bank University....
who went on to win the gold medal (together with cox Garry Herbert) in the coxed pair in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
.