Lancaster John O' Gaunt Rowing Club

Lancaster John O'Gaunt Rowing Club
Image showing the rowing club's blade colours
Motto Gaunt to the fore
Location Skerton, United Kingdom
Home water River Lune
Founded 1842 (1842)
Affiliations British Rowing
Website lancasterrowing.co.uk
Events
Lancaster City Regatta
Notable members

Lancaster John O'Gaunt Rowing Club (JOG) is an English rowing club based at Lancaster on the River Lune. Its origins date back to 1842 making it the fifth oldest surviving rowing club in the United Kingdom outside the universities.[1]

History

Lancaster Rowing Club was first founded in 1842 by the architect and engineer Edmund Sharpe.[2] with the help of his partner Edward Graham Paley.

Sharpe lived in one of the largest riverside houses at Halton Hall and owned two 4-oared cutters, the 'Ariadne' and the 'Lotus', which he made over to the new rowing club for £40 on 20 September 1842.

At the 1865 UK general election there were allegation of political bribery concerning members of the Lancaster Rowing Club. After a Royal Commission's investigation in 1867 the original Lancaster Rowing Club had ceased to exist and two new clubs were established: a new Lancaster Rowing Club (Tory) and John O'Gaunt Rowing Club (Liberal).[3]

Up to 1876 the Lancaster Rowing Club, with subscriptions as high as £70 saw increasing success and the boathouse was paid for. However John O'Gaunt Rowing Club on the other side of the river was less successful and had to remove their boats from their building as rental was too high. It was then that James Williamson, 1st Baron Ashton a leader of Lancaster's new found manufacturing prosperity, came to the rescue. He bought all the riverside property on part of which stood the boathouse and leased the land and building to the club for 2/6d. (12.5p) per annum.

By 1931 the fortunes of the two Clubs had reversed as the Lancaster RC building needed refurbishment and without the benefit of a benefactor the committee were 'unanimously of the opinion that under present conditions it is impossible to carry on'. The Lancaster Rowing Club then made all its stock available to JOG.[4]

Associated Clubs

Lancaster Schools' Rowing Association (LSRA) was first founded in 2010. The club was formed to enhance the rowing provision available to under-18s in Lancaster and the surrouncing area. Facilities, equipment and coaching staff would primarily be provided by JOG. British Rowing, Henley Stewards' and Lancaster and Morecambe College would provide additional coaching staff whilst the partner schools would provide land-based facilities and recruitment opportunities.[5]

Lancaster University Boat Club was first founded in 1964.[6] They used JOG's facilities up until 1966 when they moved to the newly renovated station building at Halton.[7]

Lancaster Royal Grammar School Boat Club was first founded in 1948.[8] They were tenants of JOG from 1985 to 2011.[9] In 2011 LRGS relocated to Halton Army Training Camp.

Facilities

JOG has a boathouse located by Skerton.

Members

Membership is open to all except for those that have been refused membership of British Rowing. Former members of the club include, two-time winner of the Wingfield Sculls, Doug Melvin.

Current club members include Under-23 representatives for Great Britain:

See also

References

  1. ↑ British Rowing Almanack and ARA Year Book 2003. Hammersmith, London: The Amateur Rowing Association. 2003. pp. 351, 352, 355, 356. ISBN 978-0-7146-5251-1.
  2. ↑ Neil Wigglesworth The Social History of English Rowing p122
  3. ↑ Neil Wigglesworth The Social History of English Rowing p161
  4. ↑ Wigglesworth, Neil. ""A history of rowing in Lancaster" - rowing on the Lune to 1992". Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  5. ↑ Sullivan, Steven. "History of Lancaster John O' Gaunt Rowing Club". Lancaster John O'Gaunt Rowing Club website. Retrieved 2010-07-23.
  6. ↑ British Rowing Almanack and ARA Year Book 2003. Hammersmith, London: The Amateur Rowing Association. 2003. p. 363. ISBN 978-0-7146-5251-1.
  7. ↑ Sullivan, Steven. "History of Lancaster John O' Gaunt Rowing Club". Lancaster John O'Gaunt Rowing Club website. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
  8. ↑ British Rowing Almanack and ARA Year Book 2003. Hammersmith, London: The Amateur Rowing Association. 2003. p. 369. ISBN 978-0-7146-5251-1.
  9. ↑ Sullivan, Steven. "History of Lancaster John O' Gaunt Rowing Club". Lancaster John O'Gaunt Rowing Club website. Retrieved 2010-04-08.

External links

Coordinates: 54°03′44″N 2°47′44″W / 54.06210°N 2.79545°W / 54.06210; -2.79545

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