Founded in 1865 Aberdeen Boat Club is a long-running rowing club based in West Aberdeen, upon the River Dee banks. They are a rowing club for adults and offer memberships to anyone over the age of 18, to various experience levels giving everyone the chance to have a go at rowing. The club has experienced a long history and through that time built a strong club culture and community around it.
The club is home to many long-standing experienced members and has contributed significantly to Scottish rowing development. Aberdeen Boat Club sourced the first-ever Scottish crew to win an event at Henley Royal Regatta in 2002 with the Wyfold Challenge cup. The club has also seen notable successes at the British Championship where they won the lightweight women’s pair on three separate occasions. More recently, the 2020 Scottish Indoor Rowing championships saw eight members racing across six categories where there were many strong performances, such as Catriona Bain placing 4th in the Open Women’s 2k. She later repeated an incredible performance at the Saint’s Regatta, where she achieved the fastest women’s Ergo.
The most recent boathouse was built in 1982 after previously being located at the University’s boathouse – a long-standing member of the club designed it. In the 1990’s it was then further expanded to allow for more facilities for the growing number of memberships they were receiving. The members have access to a range of facilities such as a fully equipped gym with ergos and weights equipment and a social area that allows the boat club community to come together even off the water. The club also has established the Inter-Company Row which has been running since the mid-1980s. It was founded to raise funds for the boat club and has become the most successful corporate rowing event in the UK where it sees competitors from different organisations have their hand at rowing. As a result of the Inter-company row, many new members have been attracted to the sport which has further expanded the Aberdeen Boat Club community.
Despite the many challenges that came with lockdown the club’s collective community appeared to persevere through. Many of the members got involved in virtual competitions such as the Winter League where with other clubs they competed to see which team could accumulate the greatest milage. This proved their strong club culture and atmosphere despite the restrictions they faced.
Want to find out more about Aberdeen Boat Club? Check out their website.
Interested in joining? Contact them here.
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