Putney Town Rowing Club

“The following crews have qualified for the Thames Challenge Cup” comes across the tannoy…

“Lea… London B… London C…”

We wait patiently for the alphabetical list to be announced.

“Maidstone… Molesey… Monmouth… Mortlake…”

How many clubs begin with M? When will we get to the P’s in the alphabet? Have we done enough to qualify?

“Putn…” and before the announcer has finished his words the crew is roaring with celebration and drowning out the announcer.

Another fabulous result for Putney Town!

“When we gather for the happiest week in all the year, it is the brotherhood of rowing, the comradeship of the oar that we recall, when eight men who have trained until they have become a single drive, a single thrust of forward-flashing wrists, face suddenly the crisis towards which that selfless toil has led them, and know that every link in all that pulsing chain of flesh
and blood rings true. For us, there are no centuries or duck’s eggs, no goals or gallery kicks, no individual distinctions where the crew are all in all. The rattle of the riggers of the finish, the music of the tide beneath her body as she shot between the strokes, the grim yet heartening sound of splendid and unbroken strength when all eight blades crashed in together - these are the things that no one who has heard and felt them will ever forget. Some delirium. Some tremens. Some kaleidoscope.”

-Sir Theodore Cook

The men’s squad were racing both days at Marlow Regatta this weekend and delivered some respectable performances and one win.

In the 2000m races on the Saturday, the 8+ got through to the semi-finals with a time of 6:12.96. Meanwhile, in the 1000m races on the Sunday, the 4+ went a step further and came home with a win beating worthy competition from from Twickenham RC and Marlow RC along the way.

Members who don’t visit the club regularly may be in for a surprise - the old Mortlake Anglian and Alpha boat house that has stood empty beside Putney Town is no more!

Originally thought to have been built in the 1970’s, MAABC vacated the building and moved across the river to the Ibis boathouse around eight years ago. The building has since stood empty.

The demolition crew moved in a few weeks ago and the fencing around Putney Town’s compound has been extended around the newly created space.

Future plans for the plot of land are still up for discussion but in the meantime, it provides some welcome space for locking up bicycles.