About Thames:

FAQ

A comprehensive guide to all your burning questions including membership info, opening times etc

Rules

A guide to the rules and regultations of the club
Links

Some useful resources

History

Decade by decade

TRC FAQ (Thames Rowing Club Frequently Asked Questions)

1. How do I join?
2. Do you take complete beginners?
3. Do you take juniors?
4. What time does training take place?
5. How much training is there?
6. I want to join with a friend and row in a crew with them. Is this possible?
7. I would like to try coxing. How do I start?
8. I have coxed before. How do I join as a cox?
9. What about social rowing?
10. How are crews selected?
11. When is selection carried out?
12. How many people are there in the club?
13. Is there a limit on numbers in the Club?
14. What equipment does the Club have?
15. How much does membership cost?
16. Do I have to join straightaway?
17. Are there any other costs?
18. How do I buy Thames kit?
19. Do you run training camps?
20. What does the High Performance Programme mean?
21. Who runs the club?
22. Can I book out the club for a function?
23. Does the house use any income from subscriptions or donations?
24. OK, where does my money go then?
25. Does the club have charitable status?
26. Is the club being refurbished?
27. What's happening with the lottery application?
28. What are the house opening hours?

If you are reading this in June to September, and are mainly interested in rowing only in a crew, then you are best off coming to the start of season meeting. This will normally be on the Saturday closest to the beginning of October. If you are reading this in October to May, have a look at the contacts page, get in touch with the appropriate contact, and arrange a time to visit. You could also consider learning to scull in a single; it is often possible to do this in June and August/September, (we are usually too busy racing in July). Places are limited, but starting in a single provides a really good basis to start crew rowing.

Yes.

Yes. We are affiliated to Go Row!, the National Junior Rowing Scheme.

This varies from squad to squad. All groups will train on the water on Saturday and Sunday mornings - senior groups generally do two sessions on each of these days; novices a bit less. There are more training sessions on weekday evenings (7:30pm); sometimes crews will also go out early on weekday mornings, before going to work. Juniors train on weekday afternoons after school.

How long is a piece of string? The commitment ranges from novices who might do 3-4 sessions per week, to the top senior crews who will be doing 8-10 sessions per week. No session is compulsory until you are in a fixed crew with pre-arranged outing times.

Maybe. Each Thames group trains as a squad through most of the season. Closer to races, the coaches select crews. Of course, there are exceptions, but this is the usual way of working.

Good for you! Thames, like all clubs, always needs more coxes. Have a look on the contacts page to find out who is the current contact for coxes. They should be able to give you more information and tell you which squads currently need coxes. Novice coxes are generally placed with novice crews, so that you can all learn together. Coxes pay House subscription.

9. What about social rowing?

People can and do row in social crews at Thames - notably the Acheronians. There are also thriving veteran sections for both men and women.  But Thames is primarily a racing club.

By a combination of testing on the ergometer, on the water (seat-racing) and coaches' asssessment of commitment and effective crew combinations. Coxes are selected by a combination of crews' and coaches' assessment.

At several different times of the year: before the Fours' Head (November), the Head of the River and Women's Eights' Head (March) and before the summer season (May).

Currently there are well over 200 people training at the club regularly; there are roughly equal numbers of men and women. Overall the club has around 600 members (this total includes older House, Country and Overseas Members.

Yes. Unfortunately, in the 2001/2 season we expect to have to make a cut at some stage to keep the men's and women's intermediate and novice groups at a manageable size. It has not yet been decided how or when this cut will be carried out. Don't worry about it too much!

The Club has a fleet of over 60 boats. We have 12 Concept 2 Model C ergometers, several Model Bs and use of a RowPerfect with computer link. We have an indoor rowing tank and a gymnasium with a full range of free weights.

Click here to see the club rates.

No. We will ask you to fill in a green membership form on arrival, for insurance purposes. You must be able to swim 100 metres in light clothing and will be required to state this by signing the form. You will have 7 days before we ask you for a joining fee (around £60, depending on the membership category). You then have a month to decide whether Thames and rowing is right for you, before we request payment of part or all of your annual subscription. It is worth looking at the rules for more details about membership. You must also read the safety guidelines which will be given to you with the membership form.

Membership includes use of club equipment and probably will involve some coaching. In order to race you will need to join the English Amateur Rowing Association which costs approximately £30 per year. We would strongly advise you to take out ARA membership in any case, as it includes insurance. You will also need to pay for race entries: the Club currently charges a flat £10 for this (although it is likely to rise in 2002).

Racing kit (lycras, splashtops etc) can be purchased from The Crew Room on Lower Richmond Road, Putney. Ties, caps etc can be purchased or ordered from Tim Wilson. Club blazers (check the rules for eligibility) can be ordered from A.E.Clothier, King's Parade, Cambridge.

Yes. Every year, selected athletes (rowers, scullers and coxes) are invited to attend the Club training camp. Since 1999, this has been held in April at La Base de Plein Air de Le Temple sur Lot, in southern France. Photographs can be found here or on the centre's own website. Athletes pay to attend. For the past two years, smaller camps in the UK have also been organised for novices and intermediate rowers.

The High Performance Programme was set up by the Amateur Rowing Association, to provide a route to the British national squad for top-level club athletes and others showing promise. The programme is based at various centres around the country. Thames is the first and only ARA High Performance Centre for women. HPP athletes work closely with our professional coach, Miles Forbes Thomas. Miles has helped many athletes over the last few years, but the most successful graduates of the HPP are Elise Laverick and Alison Mowbray, who both went to the Sydney Olympics as part of the British team. The High Performance Programme is open to members and non-members of Thames alike. Anyone interested should contact the Captain in the first instance.

The club is run by a non-paid Committee, a cross-section of 15 elected members. Appointments arise at the AGM or the Captain's meeting where YOU, the members, vote for them.

Yes please. Speak to Penny Cheetham, the House Steward.020 87880798 or email house@thamesrc.co.uk.

Almost never. The house is primarily funded by functions but may use specific donations.

TRC is one of the largest clubs on the Tideway and therefore spends many thousands and sometimes tens of thousands on insurance, maintaining the fleet, purchasing new equipment, wages, launches and petrol and general building repairs. If you require further details please ask the Chairman of the finance sub-committee, the committee or look at our audited accounts published at the AGM.

No, 'The Thames Rowing Club Charitable Trust' is specifically for younger members and has limited capacity to help. 'The Thames Trust' is a longterm fund for the rebuilding of the club and does NOT have charitable status. For more details, see the entries on the Trust and the Charitable Trust in the glossary.

Yes, details are given in the latest House Matters update which can be found around the club (and which will be added to the site shortly). Alternatively, ask the Honorary House Steward.

28. What are the house opening hours?