Founded in 1893, Bexhill Rowing Club is an inclusive community of members who push each other to achieve their goals and more. With just over 60 active members and an inconspicuous location along the Bexhill promenade, it may shock some to learn that they have squads in junior, senior and masters, both mens and women, who all go out to see success on the water.
Being volunteer-led, the club relies on the care of their members to drive the club forwards. While senior racing up to and including the Henley Royal Regatta scene is seen often, the club offers year round novice training for new and novice rowers. While focussing on coastal racing in both sweep and scull boats, river racing is still an open option with a shared river facility with Eastbourne Rowing Club. The club has something to offer everyone, no matter the experience, goals or age.
Bexhill hosts the popular Bexhill Regatta every year, for other crews across the South East of England to compete at. With the bay location formed by Hastings and Eastbourne, the course is a close to shore course that gives an interesting race each year.
The club facilities are ideal for the rowers, with designated erging, weightlifting, and circuits areas. The club has a large fleet of boats and blades, with enough boats for any size squad, including brand new boats and the new concept2 competition blades. Further to this, there are a good number of ergs, as well as a large quantity of weights, ready for any size session. The design and facilities truly fit any purpose, accommodating to any user.
The club has seen great results over the past few years. Recently, the club won the open masters 40+ at the south coast championships, being one of only two events won by a CARA organisation crew. Other great results have been seen through the season, including a strong battle from the men’s junior four for the championship title, producing several wins.
Over the past the club has been multiple British and world records broken, record rows across several different oceans, strong wins of rounds at Henley Royal Regatta including the double sculls, and selection to represent GB for coastal world rowing championships and beach sprint finals. Bexhill also won the CARA season, collecting the most racing points over the whole season, 18 years in a row, not once being beaten by another club!
The club currently has a large novice and junior squad, with the future of the club working hard and getting results. There is a clear upwards trend with more and more race wins coming in, and representation at Henley Royal Regatta. With the next championships in river boats, there no doubt will be some great results seen at some river races, including the head races as well as the Dorney events. But no matter whether you’re in for the race wins or to learn the sport, there’s a strong squad at the same level working hard and putting the time in.
Bexhill is a great testament to hard work and determination, and beating the opposition when the odds are stacked against you. Bexhill was and always will be the little guy, but like any underdog story, there is something being brewed behind the big wooden doors.
Photo credit: Gerald Matthews
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