DORNEY LAKE, Eton College Rowing Centre
world class rowing & much much more

Mark Hunter and Zac Purchase training at Dorney Lake

Rowing

Known for legendary displays of strength and stamina with the first Rowing races taking place on the River Thames in Shakespeare's time when Londoners bet on the ferries crossing between the banks.

The sport developed its modern form during the 19th century, after universities adopted it as a competitive event. So began a tradition that remains to this day with the annual Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge university students.

Rowing at the Games

Rowing has been included in the programme for every modern Olympic Games, but rough seas caused the event to be cancelled at Athens 1896.

Women's races were introduced at the Montreal 1976 Games and the first Lightweight events were staged at Atlanta 1996.

There are two types of Rowing at the Olympic Games: Sweep Rowing and Sculling.

Sweep Rowers use a single oar. They compete in crews of two, four or eight - the eight is steered by a 'cox', who also gives the crew instructions.

Scullers have an oar in each hand, and so can compete alone in a single, as well as in doubles and quadruple sculls.

There are events for both Heavyweight and Lightweight Rowers, and all races take place in six lanes over a 2,000m still-water course, either man-made (as is Dorney Lake) or on a natural lake.