Weybridge Rowing Club
Encyclopedia
Weybridge Rowing Club, founded in 1880, is an amateur
rowing
club, on the River Thames
in England. Its club and boat house is situated at on the Surrey bank of the Thames near Weybridge
just downstream of Shepperton Lock
. The club organises several rowing events, and consists of a wide range of members, consisting of juniors, novices, seniors, veterans and many past and present champions.
and Shepperton Lock
. The stretch is roughly 5km long from weir
to weir and is used also by Walton Rowing Club
and the St George's College
Boat Club.
Foundation of Weybridge Rowing Club
Weybridge started life as a "tradesmen's" club, as opposed to the "gentlemen's" club which began life much later at Walton
1919
WRC joins National Amateur Rowing Association
(NARA)
The NARA was set up as a rival to the ARA
, which in those days did not permit manual workers to compete in its regattas.
First Women Members
After the 1914-18 war, when women enjoyed greater freedom and were made more welcome in many sports, WRC included a women's event in their "Peace" regatta and formed a women's section, captained by Amy Gentry
1924
Weybridge Rowing Club crew represents Great Britain
in the Paris Olympics
The WRC coxed four - V.J. Boveington (stroke), E.W. Hann, J.H. Townend, B.C. Croucher and cox H.L. Barnsley - narrowly missed out on a bronze medal and won many regattas at home.
1926
Amy Gentry founds Weybridge Ladies Amateur Rowing Club
The women's section of WRC moves a few hundred metres down river to its own headquarters.
1920
Weybridge Regatta founded
Held on the Walton Mile, the regatta was known as the Henley of the NARA and attracted large crowds for the rowing and subsequent fireworks display
1939-1945
Weybridge Rowing Club survives the War
Weybridge was one of the few clubs on the Thames to remain open during the Second World War, though the regatta ceased to exist
1956
Foundation of the Weybridge Silver Sculls
The oldest sculling head on the upper Thames, held in October each year and regularly attracting over 500 entries. The famous trophy was made by the event's founder, "Dickie" Bird
1960
Success for Weybridge juniors
Successful juniors of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s included J. Crozier, C Roberts, C Fuller, Peter Levy, Mike Webb, Ian Shore and Duncan Nicholl, all of whom represented Great Britain in international competition. Today almost one third of the active members are juniors.
1982
Re-emergence of women at Weybridge Rowing Club
Carol Adamson became the first woman captain in 1990. The women's first eight came 8th in the Women's Head of the River in 1993 and reached the finals of Club Eights at Women's Henley in 1992 and 1993.
1991
Foundation of Weybridge Veterans Head
Held annually in March, the event caters for eights and fours, and now includes events for juniors as well as veterans
2000
Foundation of Weyfarers
Weybridge's sister club, formed to encourage members who want to row for enjoyment and to keep fit, but who are not necessarily interested in racing.
2003
Weyfarers hosts FISA Recreational Rowing Tour on the Thames
95 participants from 15 countries rowed from Oxford to Putney in 18 boats, to raise the profile of touring rowing in the UK.
Weybridge Rowing Club awarded "Clubmark" status
Sport England's quality certification confirms the club's excellent standard of care and coaching for juniors
2007
Weybridge Rowing Club Junior Squad announced the launch of 'Wey To Row' Junior Courses in Summer 2007 - Juniors beginners' course held at Weybridge Rowing Club run by two previous junior rowers, Chris Jones and Jack Percival.
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
rowing
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, 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,...
in England. Its club and boat house is situated at on the Surrey bank of the Thames near Weybridge
Weybridge
Weybridge is a town in the Elmbridge district of Surrey in South East England. It is bounded to the north by the River Thames at the mouth of the River Wey, from which it gets its name...
just downstream of Shepperton Lock
Shepperton Lock
Shepperton Lock is a lock on the River Thames, in England adjoining the northern bank near Shepperton, Surrey . It is across the river from Weybridge, but not directly accessible from there....
. The club organises several rowing events, and consists of a wide range of members, consisting of juniors, novices, seniors, veterans and many past and present champions.
Location
The Club is situated on a stretch of the River Thames between Sunbury LockSunbury 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....
and Shepperton Lock
Shepperton Lock
Shepperton Lock is a lock on the River Thames, in England adjoining the northern bank near Shepperton, Surrey . It is across the river from Weybridge, but not directly accessible from there....
. The stretch is roughly 5km long from weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
to weir and is used also by Walton Rowing Club
Walton Rowing Club
Walton Rowing Club is an amateur rowing club, on the River Thames in England. Its club and boat house is situated at on the Surrey bank of the Thames at Walton-on-Thames just above Sunbury Lock...
and the St George's College
St George's College, Weybridge
St George's College, Weybridge is an independent mixed Roman Catholic co-educational day school in Surrey, England. It had historically been an all-boys' boarding school. The first girls entered the 6th Form in the 1960s and the school decided to take girls at age 11 in 1998...
Boat Club.
History
1880Foundation of Weybridge Rowing Club
Weybridge started life as a "tradesmen's" club, as opposed to the "gentlemen's" club which began life much later at Walton
1919
WRC joins National Amateur Rowing Association
National Amateur Rowing Association
The National Amateur Rowing Association was founded in 1890 to cater for the large number of working class men who were prevented from joining the Amateur Rowing Association by virtue of their manual occupations...
(NARA)
The NARA was set up as a rival to the 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...
, which in those days did not permit manual workers to compete in its regattas.
First Women Members
After the 1914-18 war, when women enjoyed greater freedom and were made more welcome in many sports, WRC included a women's event in their "Peace" regatta and formed a women's section, captained by Amy Gentry
1924
Weybridge Rowing Club crew represents Great Britain
Great 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...
in the Paris Olympics
The WRC coxed four - V.J. Boveington (stroke), E.W. Hann, J.H. Townend, B.C. Croucher and cox H.L. Barnsley - narrowly missed out on a bronze medal and won many regattas at home.
1926
Amy Gentry founds Weybridge Ladies Amateur Rowing Club
The women's section of WRC moves a few hundred metres down river to its own headquarters.
1920
Weybridge Regatta founded
Held on the Walton Mile, the regatta was known as the Henley of the NARA and attracted large crowds for the rowing and subsequent fireworks display
1939-1945
Weybridge Rowing Club survives the War
Weybridge was one of the few clubs on the Thames to remain open during the Second World War, though the regatta ceased to exist
1956
Foundation of the Weybridge Silver Sculls
The oldest sculling head on the upper Thames, held in October each year and regularly attracting over 500 entries. The famous trophy was made by the event's founder, "Dickie" Bird
1960
Success for Weybridge juniors
Successful juniors of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s included J. Crozier, C Roberts, C Fuller, Peter Levy, Mike Webb, Ian Shore and Duncan Nicholl, all of whom represented Great Britain in international competition. Today almost one third of the active members are juniors.
1982
Re-emergence of women at Weybridge Rowing Club
Carol Adamson became the first woman captain in 1990. The women's first eight came 8th in the Women's Head of the River in 1993 and reached the finals of Club Eights at Women's Henley in 1992 and 1993.
1991
Foundation of Weybridge Veterans Head
Held annually in March, the event caters for eights and fours, and now includes events for juniors as well as veterans
2000
Foundation of Weyfarers
Weybridge's sister club, formed to encourage members who want to row for enjoyment and to keep fit, but who are not necessarily interested in racing.
2003
Weyfarers hosts FISA Recreational Rowing Tour on the Thames
95 participants from 15 countries rowed from Oxford to Putney in 18 boats, to raise the profile of touring rowing in the UK.
Weybridge Rowing Club awarded "Clubmark" status
Sport England's quality certification confirms the club's excellent standard of care and coaching for juniors
2007
Weybridge Rowing Club Junior Squad announced the launch of 'Wey To Row' Junior Courses in Summer 2007 - Juniors beginners' course held at Weybridge Rowing Club run by two previous junior rowers, Chris Jones and Jack Percival.