Thames Valley Skiff Club
Encyclopedia
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
in England, on the Surrey bank between Sunbury Lock
Sunbury Lock
Sunbury Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England near Walton-on-Thames in north-west Surrey. The lock adjoins the southern bank about half a mile downstream of the Weir Hotel....
and Walton on Thames.
The club supports two traditional water sports - skiffing
Skiffing
Skiffing refers to the sporting and leisure activity of rowing a Thames skiff. A Thames skiff is a traditional hand built clinker-built wooden craft of a design which has been seen on the River Thames and other waterways in England and other countries for nearly 200 years...
and punting
Punt (boat)
A punt is a flat-bottomed boat with a square-cut bow, designed for use in small rivers or other shallow water. Punting refers to boating in a punt. The punter generally propels the punt by pushing against the river bed with a pole...
. Skiff
Thames skiff
A Thames skiff is a traditional River Thames wooden rowing boat used for the activity of Skiffing. These boats evolved from Thames wherries in the Victorian era to meet a passion for river exploration and leisure outings on the water.-Construction of a skiff:...
s are traditional, stable wooden boats which are sculled with a pair of blades. Punts are 2 ft and 1 ft (Best and Best) racing punts. Punting is carried out competitively at regattas under the rules of the Thames Punting Association. Skiffs are raced at regatta
Regatta
A regatta is a series of boat races. The term typically describes racing events of rowed or sailed water craft, although some powerboat race series are also called regattas...
s run under the rules of the Skiff Racing Association
Skiff Racing Association
The Skiff Racing Association is the governing body in the United Kingdom for the sport of skiff racing. The SRA is affiliated to British Rowing...
, and are used for leisure outings such as Thames meander
Thames meander
Thames meander refers to a long-distance journey over all or part of the River Thames in England. Walking the Thames Path is itself a meander, but the term usually applies to journeys using other methods such as rowing, running, or swimming....
s. The club colours are yellow and black. The club organises a club regatta in July, and also hosts Walton Reach Regatta and the singles and doubles marathon events in October.
Over the years, club members have competed and won medals in rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
at the Olympic Games and other international level events. The club provides support and coaching for all levels from beginner to advanced.
The Club house is located at the end of Dudley Road in Walton and faces directly onto the river. The club originally boated from Rosewell's Boathouse at Walton Bridge
Walton Bridge
Walton Bridge is a road bridge across the River Thames in England, carrying the A244 road between Walton-on-Thames and Shepperton. It crosses the Thames on the reach between Sunbury Lock and Shepperton Lock. The architecture of the present bridge could at best be described as visually unappealing...
and then to Clark's boathouse in Sunbury on Thames. After 1945 the club moved to the Anglers public house at Walton, before establishing its own boat and club house on a former UDC bathing place. The club has close historical links with Walton Rowing Club
Walton Rowing Club
Walton Rowing Club is an amateur rowing club, on the River Thames in England. Its club and boat house is situated at on the Surrey bank of the Thames at Walton-on-Thames just above Sunbury Lock...
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