Thames Rowing Club - Putney | UK Rowing Clubs | Row HQ

Thames Rowing Club is based on Putney Embankment in London, beside the tidal River Thames. Its registered address is The Embankment, Putney, SW15 1LB.

The club was founded in 1860 by a small group of men, chiefly clerks and salesmen in the City rag trade, who initially sought organised pleasure or exercise rowing. Its first recorded win came against Excelsior Boat Club in 1865, followed by its first Henley Royal Regatta trophy, the Wyfold Challenge Cup, in 1870. By 1890 it had added 21 Henley titles, including four Grand Challenge Cups.

Thames became the home of coach Steve Fairbairn and sculler Jack Beresford during its 1920s resurgence. Beresford won three Olympic gold and two silver medals across five Olympic Games.

Women were admitted as members in 1973. Thames athletes then competed at every Olympic Games from Los Angeles through Beijing; members Guin and Miriam Batten won silver in the British quad at Sydney 2000, and Elise Laverick won double-sculls bronze in 2004 and 2008.

Membership is for adult men and women across age groups and levels. Thames does not operate a junior squad or short learn-to-row courses; its senior squads are for people with previous rowing experience who want to train and race, supported by land-training facilities, an Empacher and Filippi fleet, professional coaches and a boatman.

Since 2021 Thames athletes have won 14 Henley Royal Regatta medals. Those results include the Thames Challenge Cup in 2021, 2023 and 2024, the Wargrave Challenge Cup from 2022 through 2024, four consecutive Britannia Challenge Cups from 2022 through 2025, and the Bridge Challenge Plate in 2025.