Putney Town Rowing Club
Encyclopedia
Putney Town Rowing Club is a rowing club
on the tideway
, the tidal reach of the River Thames
in England. Its official ARA
registered colours are navy and white.
, just upstream of Chiswick Bridge
on the southern (Surrey) bank of the river. The ground floor consists of a boatshed and a weight lifting area. The first floor has a large gym equipped with many concept 2 ergos, mats, benches and other training equipment. The first floor also has a relatively large bar, a kitchen, and changing rooms.
in Putney
, and in 1986 moved to a one storey boathouse
in Kew
on the current site, on Townmead Road. This allowed the club to expand, but it was unfortunately burnt down in 1992 by arsonists. With the help of football pools funding, and fundraising by the members, the club was rebuilt as a modern, purpose built facility in 1995 with a large hall, well equipped bar and meeting room, as well as racking for a large number of boats in and outside the boathouse.
On 26 October 2005, Putney Town had celebrated 10 years of the new boathouse with "Phoenix Party", where the entire fleet was taken out and rowed past the clubhouse, in front of a number of old members and local dignatories.
The top Men's and Women's crews have access to brand new Filippi 8's of high Standard. Also available to all members are a number of Empacher
/Sims/Eton Racing Boats
/Janousek
eights, fours/quads and pairs/doubles and singles. There are four launches for coaching crews, a fully equipped weights area and a number of modern Concept 2 Ergometers.
The large hall also allows the running of circuit training sessions, stretching and fitness classes as desired.
Putney Town values all of their members and recognise that all have a contribution to make in keeping Putney Town Rowing Club a successful rowing club on the tideway that is open to all.
To this end, itexpects members to contribute to the running and upkeep of the club by giving time and helping out wherever possible. This combination helps to maintain a unique atmosphere in the club, and engenders a "feeling of loyalty" which has lasted for nearly a century.
A bar is opened often after training sessions at the weekend and in the evening.
(HRR).
2007 saw PTRC qualify for the Thames Cup at HRR for the first time in 40 years, and this was followed by successful qualification again in 2008. 2008 also saw the first Multi lane win for the club at Wallingford regatta where they won the Senior 3 Coxed Four. Since July, the Men's Squad have competed in a number of events, including the Head of the Charles in Boston, MA and more recently, the Fullers Fours Head of the River.
and a number of other local and national regattas. The Women's Squad gained their best ever result in the Women's Head of the River Race in March 2008, finishing 41st.
's 'Project Oarsome' initiative. The pupils may choose to participate in indoor and on the water rowing. The London Oratory School
also use the Putney Town boathouse.
The best successes in recent years where in March 2008, when the Men's Senior Squad qualified for the Thames Challenge Cup
for men's eights at Henley Royal Regatta
, for the second year in a row, but was unfortunately knocked out in the first round.
The qualification for the event in 2007 was the first time the club had an entry into the event for 40 years.
The Women's Senior Squad had a notable showing at Henley Women's Regatta in 2008, losing in the Semi-Finals of the Intermediate 8's event- the best showing of the club at the event to date.
Recent results at large competitions:
At the Head of the River Race
2008, the men's boats finished 107th and 347th
At the Head of the River Race
2009, the men's boats finished 189th and 334th
In the Women's Eights Head of the River Race
, Putney Town came 41st, 133rd and 22nd
Rowing club
A rowing club is a club for people interested in the sport of Rowing. Rowing clubs are usually located near a body of water, whether natural or artificial, that is large enough for manoeuvering of the shells . Clubs usually have racks to store boats and a dock to put them in the water...
on the tideway
Tideway
The Tideway is a name given to the part of the River Thames in England that is subject to tides. This stretch of water is downstream from Teddington Lock and is just under long...
, the tidal reach of 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,...
in England. Its official ARA
Amateur Rowing Association
British Rowing, formerly the Amateur Rowing Association , is the governing body in England for the sport of rowing. It is also responsible for the development and organisation of international rowing teams representing Great Britain...
registered colours are navy and white.
Facilities
The club house is at Townmead Road, KewKew
Kew is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in South West London. Kew is best known for being the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens, now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace...
, just upstream of Chiswick Bridge
Chiswick Bridge
Chiswick Bridge is a reinforced concrete deck arch bridge over the River Thames in West London. One of three bridges opened in 1933 as part of an ambitious scheme to relieve traffic congestion west of London, it carries the A316 road between Chiswick on the north bank of the Thames and Mortlake on...
on the southern (Surrey) bank of the river. The ground floor consists of a boatshed and a weight lifting area. The first floor has a large gym equipped with many concept 2 ergos, mats, benches and other training equipment. The first floor also has a relatively large bar, a kitchen, and changing rooms.
History
The Club was founded at the Half Moon Hotel in Putney in 1922. Originally the club was based underneath the Duke's Head pubPublic house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
in Putney
Putney
Putney is a district in south-west London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, and in 1986 moved to a one storey boathouse
Boathouse
A boathouse is a building especially designed for the storage of boats, normally smaller craft for sports or leisure use. These are typically located on open water, such as on a river. Often the boats stored are rowing boats...
in Kew
Kew
Kew is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in South West London. Kew is best known for being the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens, now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace...
on the current site, on Townmead Road. This allowed the club to expand, but it was unfortunately burnt down in 1992 by arsonists. With the help of football pools funding, and fundraising by the members, the club was rebuilt as a modern, purpose built facility in 1995 with a large hall, well equipped bar and meeting room, as well as racking for a large number of boats in and outside the boathouse.
On 26 October 2005, Putney Town had celebrated 10 years of the new boathouse with "Phoenix Party", where the entire fleet was taken out and rowed past the clubhouse, in front of a number of old members and local dignatories.
Equipment
The rebuilt Putney Town Rowing Club has no equipment from before 1995 due to the fire, and has an ongoing equipment replacement programme to ensure that members can compete at the high levels.The top Men's and Women's crews have access to brand new Filippi 8's of high Standard. Also available to all members are a number of Empacher
Empacher
Empacher is a manufacturer of boats, especially for the sport of rowing. Originally building sailing yachts, it was founded by Willy Empacher in 1923 in Königsberg, East Prussia. In 1952 they started producing racing rowing shells, an enterprise that has become their main business today...
/Sims/Eton Racing Boats
Eton Racing Boats
Eton Racing Boats is a manufacturer of racing boats for rowing, based in Eton, United Kingdom. The company was founded by Eton College, who also funded the construction of the Dorney Lake development....
/Janousek
Janousek
Janousek Racing Boats Ltd is a British-based manufacturer of rowing boats. The boats are made of a honeycomb-sandwich laminate and Janousek was one of the first rowing boat makers in the world to offer this method of rowing boat construction...
eights, fours/quads and pairs/doubles and singles. There are four launches for coaching crews, a fully equipped weights area and a number of modern Concept 2 Ergometers.
The large hall also allows the running of circuit training sessions, stretching and fitness classes as desired.
Ethos and Values
The Ethos of the club is geared towards Excellence and Success at the Highest Level for all crews, whilst still keeping a focus on the social side of rowing and providing for those who wish row and scull occasionally or recreationally.Putney Town values all of their members and recognise that all have a contribution to make in keeping Putney Town Rowing Club a successful rowing club on the tideway that is open to all.
To this end, itexpects members to contribute to the running and upkeep of the club by giving time and helping out wherever possible. This combination helps to maintain a unique atmosphere in the club, and engenders a "feeling of loyalty" which has lasted for nearly a century.
A bar is opened often after training sessions at the weekend and in the evening.
Members
The club is for members only, however anyone may join under the following categories: Senior, Junior, Cox, Veteran or Land (Non Rowing).Men's Senior Squad
The Men's Senior Squad encompasses all abilities from Novice up to Senior 1 oarsmen. The squad actively compete at a number of events, from local tideway regattas and head races, multi-lane national races and including Henley Royal RegattaHenley 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...
(HRR).
2007 saw PTRC qualify for the Thames Cup at HRR for the first time in 40 years, and this was followed by successful qualification again in 2008. 2008 also saw the first Multi lane win for the club at Wallingford regatta where they won the Senior 3 Coxed Four. Since July, the Men's Squad have competed in a number of events, including the Head of the Charles in Boston, MA and more recently, the Fullers Fours Head of the River.
Women's Senior Squad
The women's squad is ever more successful, regularly racing at Henley Women's RegattaHenley Women's Regatta
Henley Women's Regatta is a rowing regatta held at Henley-on-Thames, England. It was formed as a result of the lack of women's events at Henley Royal Regatta and first held in 1988...
and a number of other local and national regattas. The Women's Squad gained their best ever result in the Women's Head of the River Race in March 2008, finishing 41st.
Juniors
The club has links with local schools such as Shene school and Christ's school with the ARAAmateur Rowing Association
British Rowing, formerly the Amateur Rowing Association , is the governing body in England for the sport of rowing. It is also responsible for the development and organisation of international rowing teams representing Great Britain...
's 'Project Oarsome' initiative. The pupils may choose to participate in indoor and on the water rowing. The London Oratory School
London Oratory School
The London Oratory School is a Catholic secondary comprehensive school in Fulham, London. The Headmaster is David McFadden. It has around 1,365 pupils. It is not to be confused with The Oratory School, a Catholic boarding school...
also use the Putney Town boathouse.
Veterans
There is a large veterans squad who regularly train at weekends and in the evening. They race competitively including at national veterans championship, local tideway regattas and the Vets Head of the River Race.Results
PTRC aims to provide its members with the equipment and support to achieve at the highest levels.The best successes in recent years where in March 2008, when the Men's Senior Squad qualified for 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...
for men's eights 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...
, for the second year in a row, but was unfortunately knocked out in the first round.
The qualification for the event in 2007 was the first time the club had an entry into the event for 40 years.
The Women's Senior Squad had a notable showing at Henley Women's Regatta in 2008, losing in the Semi-Finals of the Intermediate 8's event- the best showing of the club at the event to date.
Recent results at large competitions:
At the Head of the River Race
Head of the River Race
The Head of the River Race is a processional rowing race held annually on the River Thames in London, England, on the 4.25 mile Championship Course from Mortlake to Putney.-History:...
2008, the men's boats finished 107th and 347th
At the Head of the River Race
Head of the River Race
The Head of the River Race is a processional rowing race held annually on the River Thames in London, England, on the 4.25 mile Championship Course from Mortlake to Putney.-History:...
2009, the men's boats finished 189th and 334th
In the Women's Eights Head of the River Race
Women's Eights Head of the River Race
The Women's Eights Head of the River Race is a processional rowing race held annually on the Tideway of the River Thames in London on the 4¼ mile Championship Course from Mortlake to Putney....
, Putney Town came 41st, 133rd and 22nd