Sons of the Thames

Sons of the Thames is a rowing club in Hammersmith, London, England. It was originally formed in Putney over a hundred years ago with the aim, still enshrined in its constitution, to further the sport of rowing.

Sons of the Thames Rowing Club
LocationHammersmith, London, England
Coordinates51°29′25.4″N 0°14′19.6″W
Home waterTideway
Founded1886 (1886)
AffiliationsBritish Rowing
boat code - SON
Websitewww.sonsrowing.com

History

Originally a Trademen's club that boated from Erith, the club moved up river to Putney, boating from the Duke's Head, and then to Hammersmith. The latest move, in 2000, was to share the premises of Linden House, on Upper Mall, with London Corinthian Sailing Club. The building has a 999-year lease, so another move is not expected soon. The club welcomes novices and offers a Learn to Row course each summer. More experienced members and graduates moving on from university boat clubs are also very welcome and will be integrated into the training squads for Henley and other regattas.

The club's official founding date is 1886,[1] however there is evidence of crews racing under the "Sons of the Thames" name at least as far back as 1865.[2] See also Joseph Sadler Crew Races.

Possible connections

In 1861, Herbert Playford created the Sons of the Thames Regatta,[3] to bring forward new junior rowers. The race was held on the Thames between Putney and Hammersmith and had the distinction that the competitors must not use slides. [4] [5]

There are also mentions of a society called Sons of the Thames Society formed before 1790 to celebrate the annual Doggett's Coat and Badge sculling race.[6]

Results

Henley Royal Regatta

Sons of the Thames enjoyed success in the 1960s, winning twice at Henley.[7]

Henley Women's Regatta

Sons of the Thames are the 2010 winners of the Frank Harry Cup at Henley Women's Regatta,[8] setting a new course record.[9]

  • 2010, Frank Harry Cup: James Renwick + Cat Hart, Emily Wright, Lyndsay Campbell and Pippa Blockley.

British Championships

Dewar Shield

Sons of the Thames, along with Auriol Kensington Rowing Club and Furnivall Sculling Club organise a yearly head race, the winners of which receive the Dewar Challenge Shield. The race covers half the Championship Course in the opposite direction, starting at Chiswick Bridge and finishing at Hammersmith Bridge.

The shield is named after Alice Dewar, a Furnival Captain in 1909.[12] However, there are many other "Dewar Challenge Shields" that were presented by Sir Thomas Dewar dating from around the same time and which are very similar in design, so it's possible the origins of the shield may be different.[13][14]

See also

References
  1. Amateur Rowing Association
  2. Henry Charles FitzRoy Somerset Beaufort, Henry Somerset Beaufort, Alfred Edward Thomas Watson (1888). "Boating". The Badminton Library of Sports and Pastimes. 29. Longmans, Green. p. 298. ISBN 1-142-41459-0.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. Edwin Dampier Brickwood (1868). The Rowing calendar and aquatic register. <Unknown>. p. 125.
  4. "Boating". 1888.
  5. (various) (Feb–Aug 1863). "Baily's Magazine of Sports & Pastimes". Baily's Magazine of Sports & Pastimes. Baily Bros. 6.
  6. Ainsworth, William Harrison, (1805-1882), Charles Dickens, (1812-1870), William Harrison Ainsworth;Smith, Albert, (1816-1860), Albert Smith, George Cruikshank, Hablot Knight Browne (1841). "Footnote to "Merrie England" short story". Bentley's Miscellany. Richard Bentley. 9: 606.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. HRR 1946-2000
  8. HWR race results
  9. HWR course records Archived 2011-05-26 at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Railton, Jim. "Rowing." Times, 22 July 1985, p. 25". Times Digital Archives.
  11. "Railton, Jim. "Leander take Kingston with a late charge." Times, 21 July 1986, p. 28". Times Digital Archives.
  12. Auriol Kensington Rowing Club Archived 2008-05-06 at the Wayback Machine
  13. East Durham 'People past and present' photograph archive
  14. "Belgrave Harriers" (PDF).
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