Cambois Rowing Club - Ashington | UK Rowing Clubs | Row HQ

Cambois Rowing Club is a British Rowing-affiliated club at Blackclose Bank in Ashington. It rows on the lower River Wansbeck and welcomes junior, senior, veteran and recreational members, whether they want to compete or row at their own pace.

The club was founded on the River Blyth in 1911. A retrospective history records a move connected with plans for Blyth Power Station in 1954, the loss of its colliery levy after the colliery closed in 1968, and a further move to the River Wansbeck in 1977.

In 1992 an arson attack destroyed the boathouse huts and newly purchased boats and oars, causing more than £50,000 of damage. The same account says an eight bought for the 1984 Head of the River was the only surviving equipment, and existing fundraising was used to rebuild the club.

Cambois now operates from a boathouse with facilities for water and land training. Its fleet serves different abilities and crew sizes from singles to eights, while a riverside cycleway between Stakeford and Sheepwash allows coaches to follow crews. A new pontoon was installed in August 2024.

The club holds learn-to-row opportunities for juniors and adults, plus Go Row Indoors sessions. Its junior group covers ages 12 to 18, and its current senior offer is open to adults of all ages and abilities.

Cambois records national success for its junior crews and international medals for its veterans. Jamie Kirkwood began rowing at the club at 15 and became an under-23 world champion; Elaine Johnstone also started at Cambois and raced for Great Britain at the World Rowing Championships.

The club hosts Wansbeck Regatta. The 2026 event was scheduled over an 800-metre course, with a Victor Ludorum competition for the Barrie Hanley Cup and the Eric Shiel Trophy attached to the women's junior 18 quad event.