Rowing

The School Boat Club was founded in 1878 and in 2005 had its first female competitors representing the School. Past students include Olympic and World Gold Medal winner Tim Foster.

Pupils may opt for rowing as part of their Games programme from Year 9, although there is a taster option for half a term in Year 8. In the first instance and throughout Year 9, pupils are taught to scull (with two oars, one in each hand). This takes place in singles, doubles, quads and octuples. From Year 10 onwards, pupils will have the opportunity to scull and row (one oar held in both hands), in the same type of sculling boats, and also in pairs, fours and eights.

For those pupils who wish to represent the school, extra training takes place after school and at weekends. There are head races in the winter and regattas during the Summer term, and pupils compete on a local, regional and national level. There are annual training camps at Easter for most year groups, often abroad to venues such as the South of France and the Senior rowers have made regular tours to the USA.

At the top end of the Boat Club, there are opportunities to compete at Henley Royal Regatta and at the Belgian International Championships in Ghent each year as well as the pinnacle of the rowing calendar, The National Schools Regatta in May. Several pupils each year reach a standard high enough to attend Great Britain trials, and we have a fine record of international selection over the years, many of whom continue to row at the top level after leaving BMS, either in the University Boat Race, the World Championships or the Olympic Games.

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