University of Western Ontario Boat Club - London | Canadian Rowing Clubs | Row HQ

The University of Western Ontario rowing programme competes as Western Mustangs Rowing in London, Ontario. Its on-water base is the Western Mustangs rowing facility on Fanshawe Lake, which Western also identifies as the venue for the 2026 FISU World University Rowing Championships.

Western Libraries traces the programme to 1946, when Dr P. C. Fitz-James helped form a 30-student University of Western Ontario division of the London Rowing Club. Those medical students trained at Fanshawe Lake. In 1956, Western received permission to compete in intercollegiate regattas as the UWO Rowing Club.

The current novice programme is for athletes without prior rowing experience. Selection includes fitness and ergometer testing, followed by competitive training and autumn regattas against other university novice crews. The on-water season runs from September to mid-November before winter indoor training, with team practices on six mornings each week.

Western's 2022-23 women won a ninth consecutive OUA championship with three gold, two silver and two bronze medals, then finished second at the Canadian University Rowing Championships. The lightweight single and lightweight coxed four won national gold. The men placed second at the OUA championship with three gold and three silver medals, then fifth nationally.

Western and London are due to welcome more than 20 countries and 300 student-athletes to Fanshawe Lake for the 2026 FISU championship. Western says the lake previously housed Rowing Canada's National Training Centre and women's national team for more than 30 years.