Since the excitement of our Olympic Oarsmen becoming Olympic Champions, the sport of rowing, apart from the annual University Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge; never generates the publicity that other popular sports obtain.

In Poole, one of the oldest sporting clubs, if not the oldest, is the Poole Amateur Rowing Club established in 1873. How many people in Poole are aware that Poole Amateur Rowing Club, has over the years managed to produce many Association , South Coast & World Champions.

Rowing is many things to many people but until you have experienced the excitement of taking part in a regatta and even winning an event , that you realise that once hooked, no matter how old you are, you always get drawn back into the sport.

The sport can be taken up at any age, by Boys, Girls, Women, Men. In youngsters it develops self confidence, discipline and as they progress through the various stages and start rowing in crews it also develops teamwork, all of which are characteristics beneficial in adult life.
Two schools in the area already offer rowing as part of their curriculum, Ashdown Technology College offer a 10 week rowing course and Carter Community Sports College, rowing is part of their sports programme

Even if an oarsman or woman, doesn’t want to take part competitively rowing is an excellent way of keeping fit and socialising. It is reputed to be one of the few sports where every muscle in the body is exercised.

Poole Amateur Rowing Club is affiliated to the Amateur Rowing Association, the governing body of the sport and is a member of the Hants & Dorset Rowing Association. Through out the year, the club takes part in a number of coastal regattas from Swanage along the coast to Southsea (Approximately 12 regattas). At the end of the season a Championship Regatta is held for the 3 South Coast Associations. (C.A.R.A. - Kent & Sussex, Hants & Dorset, West Country)

In addition to the coastal regattas some members have taken part in river events, Junior National Championships and World Championship events.
The club is proud to have amongst it’s members two oarsmen that have rowed the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Every 3 years , the club take part in event to row across the English Channel , between Poole & Cherbourg. It is an International event with crews taking part from France, Channel Isles, Holland, Belgium.
( The next event being June 2006)

Poole Amateur Rowing Club boast a number of trained coaches and so anyone joining, undergo training to develop their skills. Starting as a Novice, a rower will progress through Junior, Junior Senior & eventually Senior status. All through this progression coaching is always carried out.

  So if you are over 11 years of age, male or female, and would like to take up the challenge and experience this competitive sport can offer or just experience rowing as a means of keeping fit, contact Poole Amateur Rowing Club on :-

Every Sunday , through out the year, the club is open to anyone, young or mature, male or female, wishing to experience rowing before making any commitment. The first three rows are free prior your membership which is amongst the lowest on the south coast.
 
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