Star Club - Bedford | UK Rowing Clubs | Row HQ

Star Club is a rowing club on the River Great Ouse in Bedford, based at Poynter's Boathouse at Batts Ford. It supports competitive and recreational rowing from its Commercial Road base.

The club was formed in 1960 by former National Service members of RAF Cardington Rowing Club and colleagues from RAF Henlow who remained in Bedford. A junior section followed in 1967 with support from the Poynter Charitable Trust.

Today's programme includes men's and women's senior crews, masters, juniors and recreational rowers. The club runs both adult and junior learn-to-row sessions, summer courses for younger or less experienced juniors, and senior-squad access for competent school leavers.

Star has a substantial Henley record. Star or Bedford Star crews won the Britannia Challenge Cup in 1986 and 2012, the Stewards' Challenge Cup in 1990 and the Grand Challenge Cup in 1991. The club has also produced British champions across junior, senior and masters events.

In 2019 a combined Star and Bedford Rowing Club masters squad won five events at the World Rowing Masters Regatta in Hungary and finished second in the overall Victor Ludorum. Twenty-nine Bedford Star athletes later competed at the 2025 World Masters Regatta in Spain.

The club stages three annual competitions on the Great Ouse: the Autumn Head and New Year Head, each with five divisions, and the two-lane Star Regatta in June. Star was also named Club of the Year at the 2025 Bedford Sports and Physical Activity Awards.