Shiplake College

Shiplake College Boat Club is a thriving and successful club that is located on the banks of the River Thames just upstream from the world-famous Henley stretch. There are around 100 members in the club who compete in races throughout the season. We also have extensive facilities including numerous ergometers or rowing machines, a weights room and two Boat Houses containing an excellent fleet of boats.

In Year 9 the boys start off by rowing with two oars; this is known as sculling. The main aim for this year is to learn the basics of rowing and boys usually row in Octuples and Quads. After Year 9 the transition is made to sweep rowing with one oar. At this stage most age groups will row in Eights.

During the season crews will compete in both Head Races and Regattas. Head races are in the spring term and they are a time trial race over a distance of between 4km to 6km. In the summer term racing changes to the more exciting regatta style events with crews racing over a shorter distance but with up to 6 crews side by side.

The main highlights of the season are the Schools’ Head in the Spring Term, a National Competition that is raced on the same course that Oxford and Cambridge use for the Boat Race. However, the summer term sees the main races with Wallingford Regatta on the May Bank Holiday being the first multi lane regatta of the season. This is held at Dorney Lake, the venue for rowing at the London 2012 Olympics. The main event of the season is the National Schools’ Regatta which is usually held at the start of the summer half term; this event is well worth attending. The College has a marquee and many parents attend this Regatta as not only is the racing very exciting but it is also a good social event. In 2007 Shiplake College won three National titles. The 1st VIII also competes at Henley Royal Regatta at the beginning of the summer holidays.

The Boat Club also goes away for an annual tour or training camp during the Easter Holidays. In 2008 the Senior Squad went to California and competed in the San Diego Classic Regatta. Other training camps have taken the Boat Club to France, Belgium and Switzerland.

We have also been fortunate enough to have a number of our students selected to race for the Junior Great Britain team at both the Coupe de la Jeunesse and the World Championships. Recent old boys have also competed for the Great Britain Team at the Youth Olympics and won events at Henley Royal Regatta.

Your support at all of these events is always very welcome and please do check this website for information on upcoming races and the results section. Finally if you have any queries or questions please do not hesitate to contact the Master in Charge of Rowing,Tom Crisford