ASHMERE RC
A rowing eight from above, gliding in a long white boat across dark water at golden hour, the oars leaving rings behind
On the River Wend since 1898

Everyone rows at Ashmere.

A members' rowing club with a boathouse on Mill Lane: learn-to-row courses, juniors from twelve, crews who race and crews who simply go out at first light.
Book a tasterSee what's on
  • From behind the stroke seat: rowers in dark tops pulling together, oars with pink and white collars spread over the water
  • A row of green oar blades squared just above grey water, side by side along the boat

Learn to row · Juniors · Recreational · Competitive · Masters · Touring · Socials

The club

A boathouse, a river and three hundred members.

Run by volunteers since 1898. Coached sessions six days a week from April to October, and five through the winter.
  • 1898
    Founded on Mill Lane
  • 42
    Boats in the shed
  • 310
    Members, 12 to 84
  • 6
    Days a week on the water
  • 11
    Volunteer coaches
Find your crew

Five ways onto the water.

Everyone starts with the swim test and a session on the rowing machines. From there, pick the crew that fits your week.
Three rowers in caps and light tops sculling side by side on a calm grey river
Start here

Learn to row

Eight coached sessions from the ergo to a crew boat on the river. No experience needed, just the swim test.

A junior crew in red shirts racing an eight under a stone bridge, a coach's launch behind

Juniors

Saturday mornings and two evenings a week, with a coach in a launch beside every boat.

A single sculler on a calm river beside a row of houseboats, trees and town buildings beyond

Recreational

Crews made up week by week for early outings, long Sunday rows and the odd touring trip.

A coxed four from directly above on deep blue water, red-tipped oars fanned out in time

Competitive

Squad training for heads in the winter and regattas in the summer, from novice crews up.

In black and white, rowers driving hard through spray at the catch

Masters

Crews for rowers who came back to it or found it late, racing in age bands — or not racing at all.

What's on at the boathouse

Courses, outings, races and socials. Search for one, or pick your squad.
Squad

Thursday 5 November

  • 20:00

    Swim test

    Ashmere Leisure PoolLearn to rowFree

    Fifty metres in light clothing and two minutes treading water.

Saturday 7 November

  • 10:00

    Winter learn-to-row course

    The Boathouse, Mill LaneLearn to row£120 for the course

    Eight Saturday mornings from the ergo to a crew boat on the river.

Saturday 14 November

  • 09:00

    Junior Saturday sculling

    The Boathouse, Mill LaneJuniorsIncluded in membership

    Coached sculling for ages 12 to 18, with a launch beside every boat.

Sunday 15 November

  • 09:30

    Sunday long row to Hollin Bridge

    The Boathouse, Mill LaneRecreationalIncluded in membership

    Eight miles there and back at an easy pace, then breakfast.

Saturday 28 November

  • 11:00

    Wend Small Boats Head

    From the weir to the boathouseCompetitive£14 a seat

    Our own winter time trial over three miles, singles to coxless fours.

Wednesday 2 December

  • 20:00

    Ergo and gym night

    The Boathouse gymMastersIncluded in membership

    A winter training plan on the rowing machines, set by the masters' coach.

Sunday 20 December

  • 11:00

    Christmas row and mince pies

    The Boathouse, Mill LaneSocialsFree for members and families

    A gentle row in fancy dress, then mulled apple juice by the boathouse fire.

Saturday 13 March

  • 20:00

    Annual dinner

    Ashmere Town HallSocials£38 a ticket

    The year's crews, the captain's speech and the club cups.

The Wend

Four miles of river, from the weir to Hollin Bridge.

Flat water past the meadows, a long straight for racing, and the boathouse at the bend.
  • An overhead view of rowers in a narrow shell on black water, oars squared at the catch
  • A single scull from above on dark water, the oars spread wide like wings
  • An eight from above on dark green water with a small red launch following alongside
  • A tiny rowing boat far below on still green water, its crew in step
  • White oar blades resting on a line of boats moored at the bank, grey water beyond
  • Wooden boathouses on stilts over still water at dusk, autumn trees behind them
Every outing goes out with a plan, a lifejacket for the cox and someone on the bank who knows it.
Membership 2026

Pay for the rowing, not the clubhouse.

Every membership includes the boats, the oars, coaching and the boathouse. Racing members also pay the national rowing body's registration.
Start here

Learn to row

£1208 sessions
The course that starts everyone, with a month's free membership after it.
  • Swim test and safety talk
  • Ergo and crew-boat sessions
  • A coach in every session
  • Racing (not included)
Book a course

Junior

£95a year
Ages 12 to 18, with a parent or carer who signs them up.
  • Saturday and evening sessions
  • Coached in every outing
  • Junior regattas
  • Boat fees (not included)
Sign up a junior

Recreational

£38a month
Row as often as you like in the club's boats, on your own or in a crew.
  • Every club boat
  • Crew sign-up board
  • Touring trips
  • Race entries (not included)
Join as a rower

Competitive

£52a month
Squad training with a coach, from novice crews to masters.
  • Five sessions a week
  • Gym and ergo plans
  • Race entries arranged
  • Registration fee (not included)
Ask about the squad

Members' noticeboard

Rota changes, boat repairs and committee notes. Sign in with your membership to read them.

5 notices

In their words

Why members keep coming back.

Members of every squad, on what got them into a boat.
I signed up for the course to get out of the house in winter. Three years on I'm captain of the women's masters.
Helen MarshMasters squad
My daughter joined the juniors at thirteen. She's out on the water every Saturday at eight, without being asked.
Priya ShahParent of a junior
The coaches give up their evenings for us. The least we can do is turn up on time.
Ella NovakJunior squad
Nobody minded that I fell in on my second outing. Someone had a towel ready, and a flask.
Tom AdeyemiRecreational member
I rowed at university and stopped for twenty years. The Sunday crews got me back in a boat within a month.
David KerrRecreational member
The best view of the town is from the middle of the river at half past six in the morning.
Sam O'NeillCompetitive squad
Before your first outing

Questions new members ask.

No. Most of our members first sat in a boat on our learn-to-row course. The course starts on the rowing machines and moves to a stable crew boat with a coach beside you.
Anything else? Write to hello@ashmererowing.example.

Book a taster or join the club

Three short steps. The membership secretary writes back with the next swim test and course dates.

Step 1 of 2

A rowing eight in silhouette on a calm river at sunset, golden light on the water

See you on the river at first light.

Book a taster