All Welcome
The club welcomes adults of any age and juniors over the age of 11, from a wide variety of backgrounds. It is not necessary to have rowed before and rowers can join at any time during the year. In the last three years, the club membership has risen from 80 to over 200 members and most of these members had little or no experience of rowing before.
The first year of rowing training focuses upon learning the basic rowing stroke, how to race and building up fitness levels. As a general rule, rowers who attend training regularly can expect to be good enough to win races within six months of starting. Exactly how much training you do is between you and your coach, but the club tries to be flexible with the timing and duration of outings and land training.
The most ambitious beginners have gone on to compete in the club's top crews in men's and women's events at Henley and have won medals at the National Championships.
If you wish to try rowing before committing to a full season, we have a trial membership costing £30 for the first month. This gives you the opportunity to try out the rowing, fitness and social side of the club, and to decide if would like to take up full membership.
Please get in touch with This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you'd like to take up the £30 trial membership offer. Alternatively, if you're sure of wanting to join up for the entire year, please follow the instructions under "How to Apply" at the bottom of this page.
With membership comes the use of the land-training facilities, coaching and access to the club's boats. You will have access to your squad's finer racing boats when you are ready to make use of them.
The Principles by which we operate
- To develop competent rowers who can take responsibility for their own safety, the safety of others and the safe handling of the boats and equipment used.
- To develop good rowing and boat-handling techniques that protect the body from undue strain.
- To make the experience of developing as a rower both challenging and fun.
- To continue providing a welcoming, encouraging and supportive environment for new members of the squad.
- To support members in achieving their own goals within the sport.
- To provide a structure of rowing and fitness that will enable individuals and groups to progress to rowing independently (and at times to suit them) within the Club Rules.
- To establish an environment in which dissatisfactions can be discussed in an open and positive manner.
- To review these principles and the means by which they are being achieved.
Cost of Rowing Membership
| Month of joining | Adult | Student | Junior | Colt |
| August 2009 | £200.00 | £100.00 | £100.00 | £76.70 |
| September 2009 | £175.00 | £87.50 | £87.50 | £67.10 |
| October 2009 | £150.00 | £75.00 | £75.00 | £57.50 |
| November 2009 | £125.00 | £62.50 | £62.50 | £47.90 |
| December 2009 | £100.00 | £50.00 | £50.00 | £38.30 |
| January 2010 | £75.00 | £37.50 | £37.50 | £28.00 |
| February 2010 | £50.00 | £25.00 | £25.00 | £19.20 |
| March 2010 | £25.00 | £12.50 | £12.50 | £9.60 |
(NB: Remember to add a £30 joining fee to above costs if new or lapsed member)
These costs, spread over a year, work out to be considerably less than joining a gym. When you consider that the boats at the club cost up to £20,000 and a fleet of motor launches is used for coaching, this is very good value for money.
Cost of Other Types of Membership
Coxing membership costs the £30 joining fee only and associate membership is just £25 for the year.
How to Apply
- Download the form by clicking here (
opens in new window) or pick up a blank one from the boathouse - Complete the form legibly and accurately. Incomplete or illegible forms will not be processed
- Read the obligations, then date and sign the form
- Download the Medical Screening form by clicking here ( opens in new window)
- Complete the form legibly and accurately and return it with your membership form
- Enclose a cheque with your name on the back, made payable to Reading Rowing Club
- Post in the membership box in the boathouse, or post to the boathouse address: 1 The Boathouse, Thameside Promodade, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 8EQ
- Please do not send by email
- Direct any queries to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
