Putney Town Rowing Club
| Putney Town Rowing Club | |
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| Location | Kew |
| Coordinates | 51°28′27.71″N 0°16′24.88″W / 51.4743639°N 0.2735778°WCoordinates: 51°28′27.71″N 0°16′24.88″W / 51.4743639°N 0.2735778°W |
| Founded | 1922 |
| Home Water | Tideway |
| Website | www.putneytownrc.co.uk/ |
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.
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[edit] Facilities
The club house is at Townmead Road, Kew, 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. The first floor also has a relatively large bar, a kitchen, and changing rooms.
[edit] History
The Club was founded at the Half Moon Hotel in Putney in 1922. Originally the club was based underneath the Duke's Head pub 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.[1]
[edit] 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[2]. 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.[3]
[edit] 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.
The club recognises that all members have a contribution to make in keeping Putney Town Rowing Club a successful rowing club on the tideway that is open to all. It expects 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.
[edit] Members
The club is for members only, however anyone may join under the following categories: Senior, Junior, Cox, Veteran or Land (Non Rowing).
[edit] 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 Regatta (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.
[edit] Women's Senior Squad
The women's squad is ever more successful, regularly racing at Henley Women's Regatta 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.[4]
[edit] Juniors
The club has links with local schools such as Shene school and Christ's school with the ARA'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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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 for men's eights[5] 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[6]
At the Head of the River Race 2009, the men's boats finished 189th and 334th[7]
In the Women's Eights Head of the River Race, Putney Town came 41st, 133rd and 22nd[8]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- British Rowing Almanack (All years)
