Llandaff Rowing Club
Encyclopedia
Llandaff Rowing Club is based on the River Taff
in Llandaff
, a district in the city of Cardiff
, Wales
. The Club was founded in 1946 and is affiliated to the Welsh Amateur Rowing Association
(WARA).
, in Llandaff
.
The stretch of the Taff that the Club rows is approximately 1300 metres long with two obtuse bends in its length. The rowable river runs from the weir
up under a road bridge linking Llandaff
to Llandaff North
as far as a gas pipe spanning the river, where it becomes too shallow to row any further.
The Club's racing kit comprises black shorts and white singlet with a black hoop around the middle of the chest with the club logo in the centre of the band.
Llandaff rowing blade spoons are painted white with a black vertical stripe.
The annual Llandaff Regatta is usually held over the second weekend in July. The Club endeavours to draw new athletes to rowing both through an annual event known as the "Pub and Club Regatta", and through staging "Learn-to-Row" courses (held in 2007 and 2010).
On the 8th March 1998 the Club's land training facility was official opened by Rhodri Morgan
, MP. The facility was supported by local business as well as members of the Llandaff Rowing Club Social Committee.
Jeremy Luke (silver medallist 1962 Empire Games)
Timothy Luke (silver medallist 1962 Empire Games)
Charlie Wiggin
(GBR squad rower; bronze medallist 1980 Moscow Olympic Games)
David Luke (GBR squad rower; World Championship events)
Robert Luke (GBR squad rower; World Championship events)
Dave Currie (GBR squad rower; bronze medallist 2007 World Championship)
Zak Lee-Green (GBR squad rower; bronze medallist 2010 World Rowing U23 Championships)
Hannah Patterson (GBR Junior squad rower; silver and bronze medallist 2011 Junior European Rowing Championships (Coupe de la Jeunesse
))
River Taff
The River Taff is a large river in Wales. It rises as two rivers in the Brecon Beacons — the Taf Fechan and the Taf Fawr — before joining to form the Taff north of Merthyr Tydfil...
in Llandaff
Llandaff
Llandaff is a district in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales, having been incorporated into the city in 1922. It is the seat of the Church in Wales Bishop of Llandaff, whose diocese covers the most populous area of South Wales. Much of the district is covered by parkland known as Llandaff...
, a district in the city of Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The Club was founded in 1946 and is affiliated to the Welsh Amateur Rowing Association
Welsh Amateur Rowing Association
Welsh Rowing is the governing body for the sport of rowing in Wales. It is responsible for promoting the sport in Wales and for the organisation of all national rowing competitions held in Wales, including the 'Head of the Taff' and the Welsh Open Rowing Championships...
(WARA).
Location
The boathouse and facilities are based on the River TaffRiver Taff
The River Taff is a large river in Wales. It rises as two rivers in the Brecon Beacons — the Taf Fechan and the Taf Fawr — before joining to form the Taff north of Merthyr Tydfil...
, in Llandaff
Llandaff
Llandaff is a district in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales, having been incorporated into the city in 1922. It is the seat of the Church in Wales Bishop of Llandaff, whose diocese covers the most populous area of South Wales. Much of the district is covered by parkland known as Llandaff...
.
The stretch of the Taff that the Club rows is approximately 1300 metres long with two obtuse bends in its length. The rowable river runs from the weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
up under a road bridge linking Llandaff
Llandaff
Llandaff is a district in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales, having been incorporated into the city in 1922. It is the seat of the Church in Wales Bishop of Llandaff, whose diocese covers the most populous area of South Wales. Much of the district is covered by parkland known as Llandaff...
to Llandaff North
Llandaff North
Llandaff North , is a community in the north of Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. It is located in the north of Cardiff and can be considered a two part ward, each containing about half the population; a northern section of mainly middle class housing, and a southern section of mainly public...
as far as a gas pipe spanning the river, where it becomes too shallow to row any further.
Rowing at Llandaff Rowing Club
The Club is made up of all levels of rowing, from a novice squad to top senior level crews of all stages. This includes a large and vibrant junior squad, which has produced national level competitors (notably in recent history, Zak Lee-Green (2010 GBR squad rower) and Hannah Patterson (2011 GBR junior squad rower)).The Club's racing kit comprises black shorts and white singlet with a black hoop around the middle of the chest with the club logo in the centre of the band.
Llandaff rowing blade spoons are painted white with a black vertical stripe.
The annual Llandaff Regatta is usually held over the second weekend in July. The Club endeavours to draw new athletes to rowing both through an annual event known as the "Pub and Club Regatta", and through staging "Learn-to-Row" courses (held in 2007 and 2010).
Club History
"After World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, returning members of Taff (1879) and Cardiff (1884) Rowing Clubs found their boathouses burnt-out, or collapsed through wood rot, and their boats and memorabilia missing.
Members joined forces to form Llandaff Rowing Club, rebuilding the old Taff Clubhouse and using the Cardiff Boathouse for temporary storage. At first, progress was very difficult because of problems in obtaining building materials in the post-war period and the absence of boats and the silt which had filled the river in places. As luck would have it, the Clubs' own boats, which had been washed up on the estuary mud flats had been rescued by residents of the lower part of CardiffCardiffCardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
and protected under tarpaulins. After restoration work, rowing restarted at the end of 1946 and the first regatta was held in 1947.
In the 1950s the club blossomed and became a force on the regatta circuit. The Welsh National Rowing Club was formed in 1958 to represent Wales at the Empire Games, at which many of Llandaff's senior members officiated.
Jeremy and Timothy Luke began to compete at the top level in pair oared events reaching the trials for the 1960 Olympic Games, with the Edwards brothers winning the silver medal for coxless fours at the 1962 Empire Games in Australia.
Further international success in coxless pairs was achieved by Charlie Wiggin winning the Silver Goblets at Henley Royal RegattaHenley Royal RegattaHenley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
and a bronze medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.
More recently, David and Robert Luke have won at Henley and represented Great Britain in World Championship events.
In 1993, a veteran squad was formed with the object of competing internationally. The squad has won regularly at National and World Championship, 1996 being an especially successful year with six gold medals at the World Masters Regatta."
On the 8th March 1998 the Club's land training facility was official opened by Rhodri Morgan
Rhodri Morgan
Hywel Rhodri Morgan is a Welsh Labour politician who, as First Secretary for Wales, and subsequently First Minister, was leader of the Welsh Assembly Government from 2000 to 2009. A former leader of Welsh Labour, he was the Assembly Member for Cardiff West from 1999 to 2011...
, MP. The facility was supported by local business as well as members of the Llandaff Rowing Club Social Committee.
Notable members
Some famous members / alumni include:Jeremy Luke (silver medallist 1962 Empire Games)
Timothy Luke (silver medallist 1962 Empire Games)
Charlie Wiggin
Charles Wiggin
Anthony Charles D. Wiggin is a British rower who competed in the 1980 Summer Olympics.In 1980 he and his partner Malcolm Carmichael won the bronze medal in the coxless pairs event.-External links:*...
(GBR squad rower; bronze medallist 1980 Moscow Olympic Games)
David Luke (GBR squad rower; World Championship events)
Robert Luke (GBR squad rower; World Championship events)
Dave Currie (GBR squad rower; bronze medallist 2007 World Championship)
Zak Lee-Green (GBR squad rower; bronze medallist 2010 World Rowing U23 Championships)
Hannah Patterson (GBR Junior squad rower; silver and bronze medallist 2011 Junior European Rowing Championships (Coupe de la Jeunesse
Coupe de la Jeunesse
The Coupe de la Jeunesse, is an international rowing regatta rowed over 2,000 m every year. It was founded in 1985 and is open to rowers who are 18 or under by the end of the current calendar year. It is a two-day team event, with points awarded to nations based on finishing position in each...
))