While athletes are pushing the limit to cross the finish line, their clubs are struggling to stay afloat.
Rowing is an expensive sport. From boats, blades ,and cox boxes, to boathouses, trailers, and rowing machines, there is no shortage of highly specialised — and therefore quite expensive — equipment to stay on top of.
Just in the past six months, several rowing clubs have voiced a need for funding to update their fleets, repair their facilities, and (safely) accommodate a growing interest in the sport. Many already boast promising results at the likes of Henley and National Schools, pointing to a depth of young talent and dedication, but volunteer-based recreational clubs often lack regular, sufficient income to keep their boats and facilities in tip-top shape.
For instance, Stourport Boat Club recently appealed for help to fund a new landing stage, upwards of £150,000 for a permanent solution. Currently, the concrete landing stage is at the wrong height, causing damage to equipment. The club’s senior women’s squad qualified for Henley Royal Regatta this year and one of the masters athletes won gold at Henley Masters Regatta. Alongside an increasing interest in learn-to-row programs, a new landing stage would facilitate easier access for athletes, young and old, as well as accommodate increased activity on their stretch of the River Severn.
Equipment damage is a similar concern up in Durham, where the shallow riverbed caught several fins during Durham Regatta this past June. Regatta organisers have obtained permission to dredge the river, but need around £125,000 to make it happen. This stretch of the River Wear not only serves the colleges of Durham University, but also Durham Amateur Rowing Club, St. Leonard’s School, Durham School, and Lambton Rowing Club, who added that clubs downstream would also benefit from the dredging. Nigel van Zwanenberg, a regatta organiser, described a bleak outlook.
“In hot summers there will not be enough water to row”, he said. “You would be able to walk your dog across.”
Future iterations of the regatta, as well as the numerous events that take place throughout the year, rely on a river that doesn’t pose a continuing hazard to equipment.
What can be done?
One solution is raising money through one-off fundraising events. Similar to running, erging, or cycling a certain distance to raise money for charity, students from Queen Elizabeth High School Rowing Club took to the Tyne in June to row 700km (50km per crew!) to fundraise for new equipment. With the majority of their fleet being over 20 years old but around 100 rowers attending sessions, coach Tom Mawson emphasised that “investing in new boats is essential for the longevity of the boat club.” The event proved lucrative, raising over £6,500 and surpassing their £5,000 goal.
Another fundraising option is hosting a race. Seat fees, concession sales, and local advertising sponsorships can add up, especially over a multi-day event. I would argue these local regattas and head races are even more crucial to the development and survival of the rowing community, aside from being a source of income. Not only are they a chance to gain racing experience in a lower-stakes environment, they are an opportunity to build connections between clubs and rowers that would never cross paths otherwise.
However, as Evesham Rowing Club learned, they can also be a hefty gamble if the weather forces a cancellation. Last year, the River Avon flooded after non-refundable regatta expenses (tents, facilities, emergency response teams, etc.) had already been paid. What’s more, offering full refunds to disappointed competitors puts a big dent in a club’s income for the year. Though this was thankfully not an issue this past May, the club remains in a “cash-flow crisis” and is facing high operating costs. The club’s main tactic seems to be appealing for sponsorships.
A combination of sponsorships, crowdfunding, and fund matching seems to be the most common and effective approach. Bridgnorth Rowing Club successfully raised over £13,000 to replace their aging boats, half through crowdfunding and half matched by Sport England. Similarly, Northampton Rowing Club raised more than £43,000 for new equipment through the help of a crowdfunding campaign, the National Schools’ Regatta Charity, Sport England, The Rowing Foundation, and local sponsorship from Tingdene Group. Evidently, the payoff can (literally) be enormous, even though organising these campaigns can be time-consuming. As many rowers know, the right equipment makes a world of difference. Not only is it safer, but it makes rowing more pleasant and gives competitive athletes a better opportunity to refine their craft.
Of course, many of these clubs already have a lot to juggle, and navigating a funding application might push their workload over the edge. Meaningful investment in (youth) sport will, unfortunately, not be easily won. But for those who are passionate about rowing and the lives it can change, knowing the ways to maximise fundraising efforts is key. If you are a member of a rowing club with a bit of spare time, doing some of the desk work to find these opportunities (perhaps by using the British Rowing Funding Sources Database) is a good place to start.
With eyes on the next generations of rowing talent, as well as the student, recreational, and masters rowers that make up the community, we must consider where these athletes are rowing and what opportunities they have access to. Many will not be able to join the highest-performing clubs in the country from the outset, if at all. The fact remains that local clubs remain the backbone of the rowing community, and their survival is pivotal to the accessibility and vibrancy of rowing in the UK for years to come.
