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Dorney Lake

Coordinates: 51°29′36″N 0°39′56″W / 51.4933°N 0.6655°W / 51.4933; -0.6655
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Dorney Lake
Aerial view of Dorney Lake in 2007
Dorney Lake is located in Buckinghamshire
Dorney Lake
Dorney Lake
LocationDorney, Buckinghamshire, England
Coordinates51°29′36″N 0°39′56″W / 51.4933°N 0.6655°W / 51.4933; -0.6655
TypeArtificial lake, rowing lake
Basin countriesUnited Kingdom
Built2006
Max. length2.2 kilometres (1.4 miles)

Dorney Lake (also known as Eton College Rowing Centre, and as Eton Dorney as a 2012 Summer Olympics venue) is a purpose-built rowing lake and Meetings & Events Venue in England. It is near the village of Dorney, Buckinghamshire, and is around 3 km (2 miles) west of Windsor and Eton, close to the River Thames.

The lake is privately owned and financed by Eton College, which spent £17 million developing it. Additional grants, totalling £500,000, were obtained from Sport England, UK Sport, the DCMS and SEEDA in order to build the lake's finish tower. The project was completed in 2006, after 10 years of construction.[1] The facilities are hired out for rowing, as well as for canoeing, Hospitality, dragon boating, and triathlon.

2012 Olympic venue

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The lake was used as the 2012 Summer Olympic venue for rowing and canoe sprint, and as the 2012 Summer Paralympic venue for rowing.[2] For the duration of the Olympics, the lake was officially referred to as Eton Dorney; confusingly, a separate venue in Stratford was called Eton Manor due to 19th-century associations with the school.

To provide for Olympic spectators, the existing facilities were enhanced to include 20,000 additional seats; most of these seats were temporary. Construction of enhancements to Dorney Lake began in October 2009, following investigations by Oxford Archaeology, including a new cut-through between the competition lake and the return lane, a new bridge and an upgraded access road, funded by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA).[3] During the Olympic events, Dorney Lake was staffed by around 3,500 personnel including volunteers; it could accommodate up to 30,000 spectators per day.[4] A temporary bridge over the River Thames linked the Dorney Lake site to Windsor Racecourse, where a pick-up and drop-off point for Olympic spectators was established.[5][6] Other access options existed for walkers and cyclists.[7]

Past events

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Dorney Lake has hosted the following international rowing events:

The lake also hosted the annual National Schools' Regatta from 2016-2024.[10]

Lake specifications

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The rowers' starting line at Dorney Lake

The lake's dimensions follow the FISA rules for a rowing lake suitable for hosting a World Rowing Championship, World Rowing Cup or Olympic regatta:[11]

  • Stillwater, with consistent water conditions
  • 2,200 metres (7,200 ft) straight length for racing
  • 8 rowing lanes, each 13.5 metres (44 ft) wide
  • Minimum water depth of 3.5 metres (11 ft)
  • A return channel allowing boats to move to the start, separated from the main lake by an island

Home regattas

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Since the lake was opened, a number of annual regattas that were previously held on the River Thames have been transferred to the lake. These include the Marlow Regatta in June, the Metropolitan Regatta in May/June, and the Wallingford Regatta in May.

Public access

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The public are allowed to use the grounds of Dorney Lake when sporting events are not being run.[12] The two-kilometre-long flat, straight paths that run along each side of the main lake make it a popular venue for runners, skaters, and even cross-country skiers practising with roller skis. The picturesque landscape also makes it a popular location for dog walkers and people out for fun.[citation needed]

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  • Picture of the crowd at Dorney Lake during the 2012 Summer Olympics
    The lake during the 2012 Summer Olympics
  • Panorama of the lake looking down the lake from the training centre
    Panorama of the lake looking down the lake from the training centre
  • Landing stages at the rowing centre with the building for the rowing centre in the background
    Landing stages at the rowing centre
  • Footbridge at the lake
    Footbridge at the lake

See also

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References

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  1. ^ dorneylake.co.uk: "History & Future of Dorney Lake" Archived 4 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ The Olympic whitewater events took place at Lee Valley White Water Centre in Hertfordshire.
  3. ^ London2012.com: "Work starts on time at the London 2012 Rowing and Canoe Sprint venue" Archived 12 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Dorney Lake and the 2012 Olympics Archived 24 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  5. ^ "Living Near Dorney Lake". South Bucks District Council. Archived from the original on 6 June 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  6. ^ "Eton Dorney – Travel". London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  7. ^ "Park and Ride / Cycling and Walk Sites for Dorney Lake". South Bucks District Council. 2012. Archived from the original on 6 June 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  8. ^ London2012.com profile. Archived 30 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "2013 Rowing World Cup regatta to be held at Eton Dorney". BBC. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  10. ^ "National Schools' Regatta 2025 to return to Nottingham". Junior Rowing News. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Technical Details". Eton College. Archived from the original on 14 August 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  12. ^ Dorney Lake visitor information "DORNEY LAKE - Leisure". Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
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