Chiswick Bridge based Putney Town Rowing Club achieves fund-raising target

Putney Town Rowing Club, based at the foot of Chiswick Bridge, is raising funds to construct new stepped ramp access to the river in 2012. An award from the Mayor of London's Facility Fund means the club is over half way towards achieving its fundraising target.

Club members have raised or donated almost £100,000 to date together with the generous support of £5,000 from the Barnes Workhouse Fund.

The Club also has the support of the Borough of Richmond Upon Thames to secure longer term tenancy on its site next to the River Thames.

The Mayor of London: Facility Fund aims to raise participation levels in sport in London through the funding of sports facilities. The Facility Fund is an integral part of the Mayor’s 2012 legacy plan.

Putney Town Rowing Club which has over 200 members and is located near Chiswick Bridge in the borough of Richmond Upon Thames. The club was founded in 1922 in the Half Moon Hotel in Putney and for many years operated out of the basement of the Dukes Head pub in Putney. The Club will be celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2012.

The Club currently accesses the river from steep concrete steps over 100m distance from the boathouse. The difficulty of launching from steps and the distance to carry boats has hampered our the expansion of these courses. The new ramp directly in front of the Club will enable the Club to improve the quality and quantity of learn to row courses, and enable them to offer these year round to a wider section of the community.

The Club is well known for its popular learn to row courses, with Club members volunteering to
coach and introduce up to 24 complete beginners to the sport during each course. The Club has
introduced almost 200 complete beginners to rowing in the last 5 years.

Local member Peter Rossi said, “I learnt to row at the Club five years ago and am so pleased that the Club has received this award to improve the facilities. Hopefully a new ramp outside the Club will make it easier to provide many more learn to row courses in the future and enable the Club to keep growing and developing”

The club would like to acknowledge the support of Sport Richmond and British Rowing, the national Governing Body of Rowing in the UK.

November 24 , 2011