Derby Rowing Club is a rowing club on the River Derwent, based at Darley Grove, Darley Abbey, Derby, Derbyshire, England.
History Derby Rowing Club was founded by a few friends who wanted to row. They worked for the train network and met in a pub by St. Mary's Bridge each week before deciding that they wanted to start rowing. During November 1857 the Derby Rowing Club was formed with upwards of 20 members. Initially, they rented some land by the river from the rail company and made a small boathouse (which was called the shed). The Derby Regatta was inaugurated in June 1859, with the course set from Darley to St. Mary's Bridge.
At some point after 1878, a boathouse was erected under the Great Northern Railway Bridge at a cost of £5 and the club had headquarters at the Dolphin Inn on Queen Street. Charles Moore joined the club in 1892 and in 1939 was recorded as one of the oldest active rowing club members.
After many years of attempting to build a new boathouse, including plans scrapped due to the outbreak of World War II, the club finally opened a new £6,000 brick building on 26 June 1963.
Over time expansion was needed and one cold winter when the river froze, the clubhouse was moved across to the other side of the river, where it is located today. Throughout the years, many improvements have been made, the latest of which is the addition of an extension which is an erg room and many boats have been added to the fleet. Club members have competed at the highest levels with members racing in the Boat Race, World Championships and at Henley Royal Regatta.
The Club DRC consists of four core squads; men's, women's, junior's and masters.
All squads are composed of active members who train regularly and go away to race for the club at various events whether that be Henley Royal Regatta, Henley Women's Regatta or some smaller provincial regattas such as Peterborough Summer Regatta. Our squads also cater for members who are perfectly happy to come down to the club on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon to go and have a paddle with their friends.
University of Derby Rowing Club The University of Derby Rowing Club is affiliated to Derby Rowing Club.
Honours Henley Royal Regatta YearWinning crewAthlete(s) 1965 Wyfold Challenge Cup Phil Phillips, Mervyn Theaker, Andy Bayles, Matthew Cooper
Henley Women's Regatta YearWinning crewAthlete(s) 1997 Quad Fours Lisa Crofts, Bev Gough, Amanda Sharman, Julie Pryce
University Boat Race YearUniversity Athlete 1966 Cambridge University Boat Club Murray King 2007 Cambridge University Boat Club Pete Champion 2016 Oxford University Boat Club George Mckirdy
British Champions YearWinning crew(s)Athlete(s) 1974 W 2x compositeW 4x composite 1976 W 2- 1981 M J18 2+ compositeW J18 2- 2008 MasF.4- Cavell Portman, Fred Hollis, Graham Garner, Peter Holland-Lloyd 2009 MasF.8+ Arnold Cooke, Cavell Portman, Fred Hollis, Graham Garner, John Stoddart, Mervyn Theaker, Peter Holland-Lloyd, Tim Lincoln2016 MasA.IM3.2x MasA.4+ Stuart West, Toby VennChris Baillon, Mark Rowbottom, Stuart West, Toby Venn2017 W Mas Ltw 4x composite Phoebe Cook2021 Op Mas.H 4+W Mas.A 2x Viv Lewis (cox), Fred Hollis, Peter-Holland Lloyd, Neil Shorrock, Max HuntSarah Rouke, Martha Nutkins 2022 Op MasB 2xOp Mas.H 4+Op Mas.A 4+W Mas.A 2- Matt Ley, Ashley PrestigeViv Lewis (cox), Fred Hollis, Peter-Holland Lloyd, Neil Shorrock, Max HuntJames Ryder (cox), Josh Rhodes Hook, Marcus Shreeve, Tom Holmes, Phil NaylorSarah Rouke, Martha Nutkins 2024 Op club 2-Op club 4x-Op club 4-
Club Committee YearPresidentSecretaryCaptain 2014 F. Hollis G. Dean P. Champion 2015 F. Hollis G. Dean P. Champion 2016 F. Hollis G. Dean P. Champion 2017 F. Hollis G. Dean S. Cook 2018 P. Newbury G. Dean T. Hallett 2019 C. Heldreich M. Hubbard M. J. Nutkins 2020 C. Heldreich D. Smith (Hon) M. J. Nutkins 2021 M. Ley D. O'Sullivan M. J. Nutkins 2022 M. Ley L. Redfern M. J. Nutkins
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