Lancaster John O’Gaunt Rowing Club - Lancaster | UK Rowing Clubs | Row HQ

Lancaster John O’Gaunt Rowing Club is a volunteer-run community club on the River Lune at Halton Road, Skerton. Its current website welcomes novice and experienced rowers, including competitive, recreational, masters and junior participants.

The club traces its origins to Lancaster Rowing Club, founded in 1842. Its history records a political split in 1865 that created John O’Gaunt Rowing Club and a rival Lancaster club; John O’Gaunt retained the original Skerton boathouse. The Lancaster club ceased operating in the early 1930s, and a special meeting in February 1934 adopted the combined Lancaster John O’Gaunt name.

A new boathouse was built in the 1880s as the club recovered from financial problems in the previous decade. The present building opened in 1983, exactly a century after its predecessor, following a fundraising effort by the remaining active membership.

Current facilities include club boats, rowing machines, a gym, training sessions and recreational space. The six-week adult Learn to Row course teaches ergometer technique and sculling before participants can join a development squad. School-age rowers belong to Lancaster Schools' Rowing Association, which operates from the same boathouse.

The club's 1868 'Duffer' crew won widely at provincial regattas and reached the Stewards' Challenge Cup final at Henley in 1870. Its history also records 58 tankards won in open competition during 1913. Honoured members named by the club include double Wingfield Sculls winner Doug Melvin, Olympic champion Scott Durant, international rower Mason Durant and Pauline Janson.

Lancaster John O’Gaunt hosts the City of Lancaster Regatta and the Head of the Lune. Its modern programme also includes a refugee rowing initiative started in 2024 and a University of the Third Age group that has introduced people over 55 to rowing since 2017.