History

River and Rowing Museum

Are you interested in the history of rowing? Why not visit the River & Rowing Museum in Henley.

ARA members receive a 50% discount on entry!

In 1882 the Amateur Rowing Association (ARA) was formed. The initial definition of amateur stipulated that the rower should have never "competed for money or have received any payment for any kind of athletic exercise, or belong to a club containing 'mechanics or professionals' or be a 'mechanic or artisan' himself. The amateur also had to be an officer in the fighting or civil service, educated at a University or public school, or be a member of the liberal professions".

The National Amateur Rowing Association was formed in 1890 and observed rules almost identical to the ARA but omitted the manual labour clause. The new association was much more active than the ARA, organising races and championships and the two associations existed together for 65 years, merging finally in 1956. In 1963 they were joined by the Women's Amateur Rowing Association which had been founded in 1923.

The first record of women's rowing goes back to 1833 when women raced for money in sculls, and it wasn't until 1896 that the Furnivall sculling club for women was founded, named after a doctor who believed women should take exercise.

Women's rowing was first included in the Olympic Games in 1976 and British women's first Olympic medal was won at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. This success was built on in Athens, when the women's squad brought home three medals. Our most successful female athlete is Katherine Grainger who won medals at both Games.

The first Olympic Regatta was staged in Paris in 1900, before it came to Henley in 1908 where British crews won four gold medals, a feat which remains unrivalled to date. The first time British crews competed at the European Championships was in 1947, although the competition was found in 1892.

Britain is amongst the world's leading rowing nations. Success at World Championships are too many to mention and a gold medal in each Olympics since 1984 is a record unrivalled in British sport.

Olympic rowing's most famous oarsman, Sir Steven Redgrave, has achieved an unbelievable five successive Olympic Gold medals, something never achieved by a British Olympian in any endurance sport. His partner for three of these medal was Sir Matthew Pinsent who went on to win a fourth gold at Athens in 2004 before retiring.

A chance for rowing enthusiasts to see the highest level of international competition in the UK is when the Olympics come to the UK in 2012. Rowing will be held on the multi-lane course at Dorney lake, Windsor which hosted its first Rowing World Cup regatta in 2005 and the Rowing World Championships in 2006.