SRC in action 2026
First stroke of freedom - September 2026
Swindon Rowing Club is holding an introduction to rowing taster session: Sunday 13 September. Register below
Ever wondered what rowing actually feels like? Join Swindon Rowing Club for a taster session, designed to take you from zero to water-ready.
We'll start on the rowing machine to show you the right sequencing - legs, body, arms - so the movement feels natural before you're afloat.
Then after some introductions to the oars, we'll get you on the water with safety floats and an experienced rower 1-2-1 so you can take your first strokes of freedom (which would lead you nicely into our next Learn2Row course).
No experience needed, just curiosity (... and the ability to swim).
Session 1030-1200 - Fully booked
Session 1230-1400 - Fully booked
Session 1430-1600 - Places available
City of Oxford Regatta - August 2026
Great result for the club at the City of Oxford Regatta. Nearly 20 Swindon Rowing Club members took part, many competing at a regatta for the first time - with some only having finished their Learn2Row courses in this year and the end of last year.
Two members, Emily and Bella, rowing for Swindon in their Waterhay Boat Club kit (our sister club), won their races in a sweep pair.
A huge thanks to the club members who sorted our entries and logistics, Tomasz and Rob, and our incredible supporters who turned out full of voice, enthusiasm and encouragement to make sure Swindon was well heard and well represented on the banks of the Isis in Oxford
Everyone is equal on the water - August 2026
Swindon Rowing Club was proud to join Swindon Pride for our first time - not just to be seen, but to belong.
Our stand welcomed everyone who stopped by, whatever their experience with rowing (including none at all!), with the same message we live by on the water: everyone is equal here.
Ergo not ego
Rowing has a reputation for being exclusive. Swindon and the LGBTQ+ community knows what it's like to be left out of things like that - which is exactly why we bring underdog energy, through inclusivity, and a ready answer for every confused: "Wait, Swindon has a rowing club?!"
We loved meeting so many people, especially handing out one of our coveted badges to everyone who gave our erg a go and tried the rowing sequence - legs, body, arms; arms, body, legs.
Thank you to everyone who visited us and made us feel so welcome at our first - but definitely not last - Pride.
Meet us at Swindon Pride - August 2026
Show your Pride and become Officially Oar-some with Swindon Rowing Club at Swindon Pride 2026.
No one is born rowing, so everyone is welcome and equal on the water.
Visit our community stand on Saturday 15 August at GWR Park off Faringdon Road in Swindon, jump on one of our rowing machines, pick up a few tips to sharpen your gym-erg technique, and discover why rowing is one of the most rewarding sports around.
Fitness. Freedom. Fun
Whether you're curious about Learn2Row, looking to return to the sport, or searching for a friendly, supportive club, we'd love to meet you.
Complete our ergo challenge, claim your Officially Oar-some badge, say hello and chat to club secretary Sue, treasurer Ray, Safety Officer Kate, so-called 'Ordinary Member' Tomasz, plus members Anna, Kyran, and Flynn.
Making our sports (and shared waters) safer - July 2026
Sometimes the best way to move forward is to spend a weekend learning how to deal with whatever life throws at you ... even if, as rowers, we usually do everything backwards.
Three Swindon Rowing Club members - Kyran, Jake and Flynn - joined Joni, Dan, (both pictured) Louise, Bethan and Thomas from our neighbours at Swindon and District Canoe Club for a two-day Outdoor First Aid course, kindly organised by the canoe club.
Covering everything from CPR, heart attacks and asthma to fractures, insect bites, dressings, bandages and surprisingly useful ways to deploy duct tape, the course equipped us with practical skills to help fellow rowers, paddlers and the wider Coate Water community, should the need ever arise.
A huge thank you to our canoeing friends for inviting us alongBy learning together, we're making our sports, and our shared waters, a little safer for everyone.
European Masters Regatta - July 2026
Munich is done — three intense days of racing, a little sightseeing, and one clear takeaway: the European Masters Regatta is the toughest masters event in Europe, even tougher than the World Masters (which as also in Europe).
Anna, Tomasz, Elle and Neil return to the UK without gold, but with new personal bests and finishes decided by fractions of a second. (Pictured here with international cheer squad and tireless support team Dan and Jamie)
Three times they came agonisingly close to medals, on which Anna says: "It was a privilege to race alongside former Olympians and World Champions — every heat pushed us and reminded us why we love this sport."
She adds: "We’re leaving Munich stronger, faster, and hungrier for what’s next."
Rowing for England (kind of...) - July 2026
Who knew the road to the World Cup quarter-finals ran through Coate Water?
We were delighted to welcome the team from Swindon 24 to the lake as they filmed a light-hearted promo ahead of England's clash with Norway.
With one of our boats, a crew of willing club members (Captain Rob, Flynn, Sarah and Will) and sports reporter Ian Howard fully embracing his inner Viking (helmet and all), it was a brilliant way to combine football fever with a little local rowing spirit.
A huge thanks to the Swindon 24 team for inviting us to be part of the fun. We think the finished result is well worth a watch.
Learn to Row 2026
Summer 2026 has marked the most successful Learn2Row season in Swindon Rowing Club's history.
Two highly successful Learn2Row courses in May and June have already welcomed a record number of new rowers to the club, with a third course potentially planned for late August or September.
The four-week programme introduces newcomers to the fundamentals of sculling, while also helping experienced sweep rowers develop the skills needed to handle two oars instead of one. Whether taking their very first strokes or expanding their rowing repertoire, every participant begins the same journey of learning and development.
This year's graduates are a reflection of everything Swindon Rowing Club stands for. They come from across Swindon and the surrounding villages and towns, represent a variety of nationalities, ages, fitness levels and backgrounds, and share one thing in common: a willingness to give rowing a go. At Swindon, everyone is welcome and everyone is equal on the water.
For many, the course is only the beginning. Those who catch the rowing bug continue their journey as full club members, joining the Development Squad and open rowing sessions to build confidence, improve technique and become part of the wider club community. Like every rower before them, they continue learning every time they take to the water.
Flipping good fun (and educational!) - June 2026
We're training rowers not swimmers.
That said, it's not uncommon when you're in a fine single to get things wrong occasionally and capsize your boat.
Some rowers even talk about it as if it's a right of passage.
But whether it's a 'when' not 'if' scenario, it's good to be prepared and know what to expect. So June 2026 saw our most recent capsize training session at Dorcan Pool in Swindon.
As well as good fun, it was a serious workout trying to clamber back into a boat after you've flipped. The session also taught valuable and simple ways to stay safe and how to avoid injuries, what to do when you flip after you've capsized, and what you can do if you're close to someone else who has.
Gold at the British Rowing Masters Regatta - June 2026
Success for Swindon Rowing Club's Anna and Elle at the British Rowing Masters Regatta.
The pair won Gold in the Women's Intermediate 36+ 2x.
The event in Nottingham in June 2026 also saw the pair row with Neil and Tomasz across a series of sprints..
Between them coming second in the Mixed Intermediate 36+ 2x, and close 4th in the Mixed MasB 2x, and Mixed MasB/C 4x- finals.
Abingdon Head of the River - April 2026
Abingdon Head of the River delivered just about every season in a single day, and amid the hail, high winds, rain, sunshine and even rainbows... what a day it was for Swindon Rowing club.
A standout result for club captain Rob and Henry: the fastest double overall and winners of the Men's Open 2x - a superb performance.
Swindon had three doubles and two quads on the water, including one crew rowing for only their second time together, with two members new to racing since learning to row... and they came within 20 seconds of the win!
A special thanks to Tomek and family for transporting the boats and generously sharing private boats with the squad, and to our brilliant supporters who stood through the weather and made sure everyone in Abingdon knew Swindon was there.
Proud, load, and only just getting started.
British Rowing: Coaching Team of the Year
We're proud to have collected British Rowing's Coaching Team of the Year award.
Presented by Frankie Allen MBE, with some of our brilliant coaching team there to receive it... and a pretty special moment meeting rowing and Olympic legend Sir Steve Redgrave.
A day we won't forget - thank you British Rowing, hosts London Rowing Club and Sir Steve Redgrave.
Picture courtesy of Ben Radford Photography.
SRC in action 2025
Our small club is making big waves!
Swindon Rowing Club named British Rowing's Coaching Team of the Year 2025!
We're thrilled to be recognised for our warm, friendly, encouraging and inclusive culture.
British Rowing said of Swindon Rowing Club: "The impact of this coaching team is clear in the achievements of their learning rowers, a growing sense of belonging for all members, a growing pride within the town of the rowing success, and the club’s exponential growth.
In just over 18 months, the club has gone from under a dozen active members to over 40. This spirit of progress, community, and care makes their coaching team exceptionally deserving of this award.
By actively seeking, listening, and responding to feedback, the coaching team revitalised the Learn to Row programme, encouraging a broader range of novices with greater representation across age groups, genders, sexualities, nationalities and cultures. They are joined by a new coach to offer athletes with additional physical needs learning opportunities, which they plan to build on."
Coaching team pictured:
Top L-R: Kyran Foster, Sue Wald-Whittaker, Rod Minty, Maddie Mitchell
Bottom L-R: Court Clarkson, Duncan Hall, Rob Sinclair, Jo Barr, Jacob Allinson
We're back 'home' on Coate Water
While engineering work was carried out on Coate Water's structure during Autumn 2025 the lake had to be partially drained.
On top of the effects of a hot summer with little rainfall, it became impossible for us to get boats and athletes safely in and out of the water.
So, for a short while (almost two months), our regular training moved to the Cotswold Lakes Trust's Cleveland Lakes network.
With the return of the seasonal rain restoring water levels, we've also returned 'home' on Caote Water.
Gold at the World Masters Regatta 2025
Anna, Elle and Tomasz put Swindon Rowing Club on the global rowing community's radar at the World Masters Regatta with a gold.
At Master's level, medals are only awarded for the first rowers across the line. At the regatta in Banyoles in Spain in September 2025, our team recorded a series of impressive finishes, including while competing in international teams with others they had never rowed with before:
- Gold: Anna & Elle - Double Sculls Class C
- Second Place: Anna & Elle - Double Sculls Class B
- Second Place: Anna & Elle - Double Sculls Class A
- Second Place: Elle - Mixed International Class B with Krzysztof from Bydgoszcz in Poland.
- Third Place: Anna & Tomasz - Mixed Double Sculls Class C
Putting Swindon on the global rowing map
Even before Anna, Elle and Tomasz met British Olympic rowing legend Sir Matthew Pinsent at the World Masters Regatta, British Rowing sat down with Tomasz to find out how a chance meeting in a garage led to Swindon Rowing Club and the World Masters Regatta.
Success and stamina: The Great Ouse Marathon
Sam and Rob rowed 21.5km for the Great Ouse Marathon in Norfolk in September 2025.
Not only was completing the lengthy route from West Norfolk Rowing Club to the Ilse of Ely Rowing Club a show of stamina, but they completed it in just 1 hr 40 mins and 19 seconds making them the 9th fastest crew of the day and fastest in 2x Band 2 - winning the category.