CHAIRMAN’S VIEW

Over the last few weeks it has been great to see our Club scullers in action once again, competing first in the Doug Melvin Challenge and then, a fortnight later, in the Scullers Head, with a strong turnout and some very good performances in both events.

Further afield, an LRC contingent ventured over to Paris to take part in the Traversée and, from what I am hearing, it was a hugely enjoyable weekend. Also, at the invitation of KAR & ZV De Hoop Rowing Club, a group of Elite Squad members took the trip to Amsterdam for the Amstelbeker and enjoyed, for the second year running, a very successful weekend. London RC has long held ties with De Hoop RC and I am particularly pleased to see that this relationship remains strong.

Thursday, 18th September saw an excellent Club Supper with more than fifty members enjoying another wonderful meal as well as great company. Our thanks once again go to Annabel, Geraldine and Suzanne for their hard work. Immediately prior to supper members had packed the Fairbairn Room to listen to a very interesting presentation by Dr. Matthew Wright on cardiac health. All present learned a great deal about a subject that is, of course, extremely important to us all and thanks are due to Rui Xu and Colin Christie for putting this together.

It was great to see the ‘then and now’ photos of the 2004 Wyfold crew and coach in the recent Weekly Brief, very nicely demonstrating an important aspect of our sport, and indeed any team sport, that of the friendships and bonds which develop from shared experiences and overcoming challenges.

Since the last edition of The London Roar the Club has received the sad news of the deaths of Chas Newens and Bill Colley.

Chas, a member of LRC since 1979 and who was Master of the Company of Watermen in 2001, has been a significant and popular figure along the Tideway and beyond. His chandlery business on Putney Embankment has been established many years and he will have been well known to many at the Club.

Bill was one of the last boatbuilders with the skills and abilities to work on timber racing shells. He brought this knowledge and experience to LRC for many years during the 1980s when he worked at the Club as Boatman. Those who were rowing at LRC at that time will remember him well.

Simon Melvin
Chairman, London Rowing Club

CAPTAIN’S REPORT

September was a busy start to the new rowing season with LRC represented at events both locally and internationally.

Overseas racing included the World Rowing Masters regatta in Banyoles, Spain. LRC was one of 745 clubs entered and had crews competing in pairs, doubles, coxless fours and eights across the 4 days of the regatta. Congratulations to all those who competed and additionally to the Women's B4- who placed 3rd overall in their event.

The squad also raced internationally in September and headed to Amsterdam and the Amstelbeker as the defending Women’s and Men’s club and overall winners from 2024. The Amstelbeker sees crews compete in eights over a 750m course on the river Amstel. Initially crews will compete in the club or student events before the winners of each event race head to head in overall finals. The club finals were a repeat of the 2024 event with LRC’s Women’s and Men’s crews successfully defending their titles against Willem III and K.A.R. & Z.V. 'De Hoop' respectively. LRC’s crews went into the overall finals to compete against Nereus for the Fortunabeker and Palmbeker cups. Both the Women’s and Men’s crews from LRC successfully won the overall events which resulted in all 4 titles being retained. Well done to all those from LRC who competed in the Amstelbeker.

September also saw local events with the Doug Melvin challenge and the Scullers Head both taking place. The Doug Melvin Challenge is an annual event for LRC single scullers and takes place over a 4.4km course from the Bandstand to the LRC flagpole. This year 22 scullers took part across 4 different categories. Congratulations to the following individuals for the fastest times in their category; Edoardo Marshall (M1x), Giulia Riley (W1x), Sean Blake (Mas M1x) and Heather Hopkins (Mas W1x). Thank you also to all those who helped to organise and run the event.

The Scullers Head took place two weeks after the Doug Melvin challenge and at the end of September. Over 500 scullers took part in the event and covered the 6.8km course from Mortlake to Putney. LRC had 12 scullers taking part across a range of categories. Well done to all those who competed and additionally to those LRC scullers who placed within the top 3 of their category. This includes; James Lindsay-Fynn (2nd Op Lwt 1x), James Sanders (2nd Op MasB 1x) and Devin Ward (3rd W MasA 1x).

October will see LRC crews prepare for both The Fours Head and Veteran Fours Head races in November. Crews will also compete at the Upper Thames Autumn Head at the end of October and I look forward to seeing and reporting on results.

Matt Reeder
Captain, London Rowing Club

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

See more detail for these events, visit our Calendar of Events…

WOMEN’S MASTERS REPORT

We are back on the water! The 2025/26 LRC Masters Rowing Season officially kicked off on September 21st with a meeting of about fifty Masters in the Ashton Room. It was fantastic to see so many familiar faces - and a few new ones.

We gathered to set the tone for what is shaping up to be an exciting and competitive year ahead. For those who missed the meeting, or would like to revisit the plans, you can find the presentation from the season kick-off linked on our London Sharepoint.

Next, huge congratulations to Elinor for representing the LRC Women Masters at the Scullers Head - a strong start to the season! Looking ahead, we are excited that part of the group will be heading across the pond to take part in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston. This year, the Club will be represented by the Women Masters in two categories:

W Club 4+: Caroline, Chloe, Elinor, and Vicky
Masters 30+ 4+: Julia, Emily, Catherine, Kirstyn, and Saskia

Best of luck to both crews as they take on this iconic international course!

We are also gearing up for Vets Fours Head, with training now well underway. The early mornings are back, and there is already a strong sense of momentum building as we prepare for a packed winter racing season.

Saskia Gill

BALCONY FUNDRAISING

We have raised a third of the funds needed for Phase 1 of the balcony build. The Great London Row current total is £51,237 and with the generously matched funds - this brings us to £101,237 of the £300k needed for Phase 1 of the balcony build and associated costs. Many thanks to all who donated and who participated. Special thanks to the eight particularly generous individuals who cumulatively donated £31k of the total £51,237 raised.

Congratulations to Andrew Boyle - the model GLR participant who has won the prize for the highest sponsorship funds. Andrew secured sponsorship from over 20 people, generating over £3k and rented two ringers for the courses his crew completed on the Saturday from Windsor to Kingston and the Sunday from Kingston to LRC. Andrew’s prize will be presented at the Annual Dinner. Some photos below from across the two days.

Philip Carrie, Lee Riley, George Dimitripoulos and Michelle Weiss

Phelan Hill, Jonty Williamson and Matt Reeder

Sunday - Kingston to LRC Rowers and Supporters Crew

Charlie and Richard Twallin, Father and Son

Next time you are in the bar, you will see a card terminal which you may tap to donate £2, £5 or £10 to the balcony fund. This machine will allow us all to donate a bit here and there, which will add up.

Later this month you will be receiving our direct appeal, you will learn more about the history of our balcony and further detail on the two phases of works.

Thank you for supporting the various initiatives to raise the funds required to replace our balcony which is coming down in December.

Kathleen Curran

GREAT RIVER RACE 2025

Have you been unable to participate in the Vogalonga because of its timing in the midst of the regatta season or the need to spend an expensive weekend in Venice? Well, there is an alternative closer to home. On 20th September Mike Baldwin, Ronnie Maddox and I participated in the Great River Race, which was run from Millwall to Richmond, a distance almost the same as the Vogalonga (21.6 miles).

This is a race for fixed seat craft. Mike and I were in a Celtic Longboat, while Ronnie was invited by Jonty Williamson to join a Watermen's Company crew in what looked like a ceremonial barge. The race is based on the concept of Watermen and so each crew must carry a passenger and cox along with a 3’ x 2’ flag. With a strong westerly wind against the flood tide, we felt the extra weight. After the Great London Row, we were just pleased there were no locks!

Some of the boats taking part in the row await the moment when the tide is right to set off

The start into rolling waves reminded me of an acquatic version of the Wacky Races. There was some competitive steering as crews fought for a good line under the bridges. We were cheered by a large crowd on Tower Bridge, which was an iconic landmark. The race calmed down around LRC, which was half way, and we rowed on resolutely. It was only after stepping out of the boat that we realised what three hours of fixed seat rowing can do to you. The beer tent at the finish was not quite up to Miles's post Vogalonga drinks party, but the local brew was delicious!

Andrew Boyle

8S AND 9S REUNION

Following past successful lunches and a club evening for those who rowed in the 80s and 90s, we are holding another reunion on Thursday, 23 October at 7.00pm onwards.

Please come to catch up with old friends and bring some photos for a nostalgic trip down memory lane. We will also have large images on display of Stuart Forbes’s new balcony design. If the weather is reasonable, have a last stand on the outgoing 100 year old balcony. All members, whatever vintage, are of course welcome.

Our email list does not include those whose membership has lapsed so please forward this invitation to former members you know who would like to attend. We look forward to seeing you on 23rd October.

You will have seen from The London Roar that many of us participated in the Great London Row to raise money for the essential replacement of our old balcony that has sadly reached the end of its life. Work is scheduled for January and February next year. As I write we have raised over £50,000 and our very generous anonymous member will match funds up to £50,000, so we have over £100,000 towards the project. This is a once in a lifetime replacement that will greatly enhance our fine historic clubhouse.

If you have sponsored or donated to the fund, thank you so much. The new balcony won’t happen without support from across the Club. If you have yet to contribute please do consider making a donation.

Please RSVP to me bill.baker@londonrc.org.uk so we have an idea of numbers on the night.

Bill Baker

CLASSICS AT THE CLUB

This year’s Classics at the Club will be held on Sunday, 26th October starting at 12pm.

Bring your classic car or motorcycle to the Club and enjoy a chat and drink with fellow enthusiasts. The bar will be open and the tide on the ebb.

All welcome whether you have a vehicle or not.

We look forward to seeing you.

Bill Baker

LRC FIREWORKS PARTY

Please join us at the Club on Wednesday, 5th November for another spectacular fireworks display! Food will be available and the bar will be open as usual.

CASUAL EVENTS STAFF

The Club is looking for casual events staff, with good rates of pay, to join our friendly team. Ideally, you will already have experience of working in a bar or restaurant although this is not essential if you are willing to learn!

The shifts vary week to week so it is ideal as a second job or if you are studying locally. Most shifts are on the weekend so it is essential that you can work on Friday nights and Saturdays.

The role is varied, ranging from serving at the table, working on the bar and rearranging and setting up rooms so stamina is required together with a love of working with people.

If you are interested, please contact me at events@londonrc.org.uk.

Annabel Lawrence
Events Manager, London Rowing Club

NEW MEMBERS

We would like to welcome the following new members to the Club:

Ana Aguirregabiria
Harry Botteril
Aline Buur
Rory Copus
Minty Evans
Sarah Foxton
Robert Humphris
Victor Kleshnev
Victoria Lacey
Finn Meinecke
Thibault Mulot
Georgie O’Connor
Charles Pitt Ford
Vlad Proudnikov
Giulia Riley
Paolo Romanego
Phoebe Teale
Ko Uchida
Toby Watkin
Laura Wood

We hope you will enjoy being part of the London Rowing Club community and will help us build an ever happier and more successful club.

We are always pleased to have more members so, if you know of anyone who you think might like to join the Club, please either let us know or encourage them to get in touch with us themselves.

There is information on becoming a member on our website or you can email the Club’s Membership Secretary:

Andrew Boyle
Honorary Secretary, London Rowing Club

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TUBBY

Owen Bryant, ‘Tubby’ to all who know him, although that sobriquet has been inappropriate for some 70 years - a nonagenarian to be on 13th October and, therefore, the oldest and longest serving member of LRC.

He joined after his National Service in the 1950s with his friend from school and long standing crew mate Colin Kester at a time when the Club was stuck in the 1930s time warp which decreed that the Club must put its best crews into the Grand and Stewards “because we always have done” regardless of the fact that they would be slaughtered by the professional/drug fuelled crews coming out of the Eastern block rather than entering and winning the Thames Cup which would certainly have been the case in at least one year.

Tubby, rowing at stroke, in an LRC HORR crew in 1959.

His first Henley outing in the Grand in 1958 resulted, as expected, in defeat at the hands of Trud Club from Leningrad. Thereafter, he rowed in various crews, his best year being 1962 when he lost the semi-final of the Wyfolds to the eventual winners. His last Henley, in 1965, was with Upper Thames. The reason for this defection only he will know.

However, he was in well placed crews in the Head of the River and enjoyed considerable success on the regatta circuit. He and Colin were a formidable pair but again were not able to race as such at Henley, it being the policy not to “weaken “ the first 8 by allowing crew members to double up.

At this time, winter training consisted mostly of “tanking” in a draughty shed which has long since been condemned and is, I think, part of the new changing rooms. Tubby was part of a group which started to train in the winter at Edward Sturges’s gym in Chelsea after work. Edward was a very successful oarsmen and sculler who won the Goblets and Wingfields after the War and he realised that the Club would have to move with the times if it was to be competitive. He was at odds with the Club hierarchy who thought that, at best, weight training was unnecessary and at worst that it was detrimental because it made you “too stiff to row properly.” You can see what we were up against.

When work started to take up too much of his time to enable him to train fully - and this included a year in Canada - he turned to rugby, playing mostly for Esher but, when in Canada, he played international rugby - so he assures me - for the Toronto Irish. I think that is right but it might have been the Montreal Welsh.

At about this time Tubby also fell in love with the mountains and climbing. He spent most of his holidays in the Alps or in Wales with Graham Beech (another highly successful LRC sculler and Wingfield’s winner - described in his Wingfield’s biography as a “colourful member of LRC”) or in the Lake District and the Cuillins on the Isle of Skye with me.

After a brief spell of veteran rowing he turned to coaching, passing the ARA Silver Coaching Award as it then was with the joint highest marks ever. Gold would have followed but for the fact that there wasn’t anyone qualified to set the Gold Award. As he was by then living in Taplow he took his coaching skills to Maidenhead RC, it being on his doorstep rather than LRC. At Maidenhead he coached the juniors with considerable success and many of his protégés have gone on to succeed as seniors. He is still at it despite having been washed out of his skiff by a gin palace, gashing his leg on a piece of ironmongery as he went over the side.

Long may he continue to thrive.

Chris Harris

RIVER FEVER

I must go down to the river again, to the busy club and the Tide(way),
And all I ask is a small boat and the blades to drive her by;
And the blistered hands and the burning lungs and the tired legs shaking,
And a grey scum on the river’s edge, and a pink dawn breaking.

I must go down to the river again, for the call of wind over tide
Is a drenching call and a bouncing call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a calm day without the launches flying,
And no spray and no blown spume, and no cruisers plying.

I must go down to the river again, to the pervasive rower’s life,
To the steer’s way and the cox’s way where the wash is like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rower,
And hot cuppa and a bacon roll when the long outing’s over.

With apologies to John Masefield

Charlie Pryor

REPORTING SAFETY INCIDENTS

All members are reminded that if you are involved in or witness a water safety incident, you are required to report it using the following email address – safety@londonrc.org.uk

The Club will file any necessary reports on your behalf with British Rowing and the PLA. Members should not submit reports directly to either body.

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

My thanks to everyone who has contributed to this edition of the London Roar. If you have an idea for an article or would be interested in submitting a piece for inclusion in a future edition, please email me on miles.preston@londonrc.org.uk

Please do not submit an article without first liaising with me.

Miles Preston
Editor of The London Roar