Join Us
Membership
Rowing is a unique sport. The power, strength and endurance required are fairly obvious - and new people do develop all of these . More challenging though are the skills to get the technique right, that you only really appreciate when you have been out on the water. The basic movements can be grasped in a few weeks - perfecting those movements takes a lifetime. Being part of a team of people, learning these skills in the fresh air is a very rewarding experience.
Sessions are held in the evenings during the summer months and on Saturday and Sunday mornings all year round.
If you have rowed before, or if you would like to learn a superb all-round sport that is fun, challenging, sociable and rewarding, please contact us to arrange a visit- you are more than welcome to come and join us.
Want to learn?
The club runs an adult beginner course in early Summer to provide people with a taster in rowing and the basic skills required to take part in the sport recreationally or competitively.
After completing a course, new members may be invited to join the novice/intermediate squads and progress to racing, or, once assessed as self-sufficient, are able to row recreationally if they wish.
Membership Fees
Senior Men / Women
The senior squad is for those who have some experience rowing or sculling, and who are willing and able to commit to a full training program six days a week, which is made up of four evening sessions during the week (Water based in the Summer, and land based in Winter), as well as Saturday and Sunday morning water outings (8am – 12pm) each weekend. Regular assessments are held throughout the season, and all members of this squad are expected to commit fully to the club’s senior training plan. This helps to ensure our Senior squad is as competitive as possible.
The senior squad regularly competes at Henley Women’s Regatta, Henley Masters Regatta, and the annual Head of the River Races on London’s tideway, and has had good results in these, as well as local Regattas and Head Races. The Senior Squad takes in experienced new members all the way through the year, and those progressing from the Club’s novice/Intermediate squads in September each year.
Novice/Intermediate
The Novice/Intermediate Squads are for those who have progressed from the Beginners squad, and are developing their rowing technique and fitness, or those with previous rowing experience who are coming back into the sport. We have very active men’s and women’s Novice/Intermediate squads who all train regularly (Around 2-5 days per week, depending on commitment), and aim to compete at local level regattas such as Shrewsbury, Ironbridge, Henley T&V and Oxford City Regatta.
Masters
Abingdon Rowing Club has a large Masters (formerly known as Veterans) group of rowers. Dedicated to enjoying themselves, the group welcomes rowers with all levels of experience and ability and offers rowing to suit all levels, from recreational / occasional to full competitive racing at international levels. In the last few years, we’ve had wins at National Masters and Henley Masters regattas (crews have included some members who only learnt to row in the last 5 years) and have had representatives at the World Masters regatta. We also compete regularly at UK regattas in the summer and head races in the winter.
It is just as important to us to support individuals and crews who prefer to stay on our beautiful stretch of water with regular or occasional sessions, not racing but enjoying the activity, the companionship, the (occasional) tranquility and the (lively) wildlife. It keeps us fit, keeps us healthy and keeps the mind working.
So, whatever your ability level and whatever your ambition from rowing, you’ll be assured of a very warm and enthusiastic welcome at Abingdon Rowing Club. The Masters row on Saturday and Sunday mornings through the year and add evening rowing in the summer months.
Juniors
The juniors at ARC are a great bunch. We receive coaching from a fantastic team and are continually progressing to compete. As the squad is developing, we have more and more members from ages 12 to 18 and from many different schools in Oxfordshire.
It’s not all about training - we also have regular socials organized by one of the juniors and an annual Christmas social. We all get on well with each other and make sure that even though we are training hard, we are also having fun
What is required for juniors to compete
British race licence, rigger jigger and Abingdon club kit. Abingdon Junior rowing Kit for competing: Where to buy club kit Abingdon Rowing Club – RIVAL KIT
If you are interested in joining the Abingdon Junior Squad, then please speak to the Junior Coordinator, juniors@abingdonrc.org.uk