Bedford Rowing Club

Bedford Rowing Club

Location	Bedford, England
Coordinates	52°08′03″N0°27′53″W / 52.13408°N 0.464844°W / 52.13408; -0.464844 (Bedford Rowing Club)
Home water	River Great Ouse
Founded	1886 (1886)
Affiliations	British Rowing boat code - BED
Website	www.bedfordrowing.co.uk
Events
List Bedford Eights and Fours Head Bedford Small Boats Head (Spring) Bedford Amateur Regatta Bedford Quarts Sprint Regatta Bedford Small Boats Head (Autumn)

Bedford Rowing Club is an amateur rowing club in Bedford, England, founded on 15 March 1886. ^[1]

History

Despite Bedford Regatta having been founded in 1853, there is no record of any rowing clubs in Bedford until 1886. ^[2] at a meeting chaired by the Mayor. It was minuted that:

1. That it be advisable that a Rowing Club be formed in Bedford.
2. That it be called the Bedford Amateur Rowing Club.
3. That amateurs only, as defined by the rules of the Amateur Rowing Association, be eligible to become members.
4. That a Committee be elected by the meeting to draw up Rules for the Club & amount of subscriptions.
5. That all members be swimmers.

The original minutes are held in the Bedfordshire archives ^[2] and a copy is on display in the Club. The colours are maroon, white and blue. ^[3]

Current activities

The club regularly competes across the UK at all levels and has a broad membership base, from complete novices and juniors through to senior oarsmen and veterans.

Competitions

The club hosts three Head Races each year as well as a popular Sprint Regatta:

• The Eights & Fours Head is held on the second Sunday in February.
• The Spring Small Boats Head is usually held on the second Sunday in April, though the date may be changed, depending on when Easter is celebrated.
• The Sprint Regatta is held on the Sunday between Henley Royal Regatta and the National Championships.
• The Autumn Small Boats Head is held on the second Sunday in October.

Honours

British champions

Year	Winning crew/s
1972	Men J18 1x [4]
1977	Men J18 2x [5]
1991	Men 2-, Men L8+, Women J18 2x, Women J16 2x, Women J16 4x [6]
1992	Men L2x [7]
1994	Women 4+ [8]
1995	Women 4-
1996	Women 4-, Women 8+, Women L2- [9]
2011	Open J15 1x [10]

References

1. "Local Notes" . Bedfordshire Times and Independent. 31 July 1886. Retrieved 11 February 2025– via British Newspaper Archive.
2. "Minute book containing the minutes of the public meeting, 15th Mar 1886, Bedfordshire County Council Archives. Date deposited: December 1965". Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
3. The Umpires' Handbook British Rowing, 2020: at p.43.
4. "Railton, Jim. "Nottingham in their Olympic stride." Times, 21 July 1972, p. 10". Times Digital Archives.
5. "Railton, Jim. "Rowing." Times, 18 July 1977, p. 7". Times Digital Archives.
6. ""For the Record." Times, 22 July 1991, p. 32". Times Digital Archives.
7. "Rosewell, Mike. "MacLennan's attack pays off." Times, 20 July 1992, p. 25". Times Digital Archives.
8. ""For the Record." Times, 18 July 1994, p. 22". Times Digital Archives.
9. ""For the Record." Times, 22 July 1996, p. 39". Times Digital Archives.
10. "2011 Championships - Results of Sunday Racing". British Rowing Championships. Archived from the original on 6 December 2016.

External links

• Bedford Rowing Club