Membership

We welcome membership enquiries from anyone. The club has the largest junior section in the Southampton area which meets on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings and caters for boys and girls from School Year 8 (J13) and up.  Because rowing is a non-impact sport it is safe for all age groups to participate in. All we ask is that you be able to swim at least 100 metres in light clothing.

* Trial membership payable at the first session. £5 goes to British Rowing and £20 to the club. The £25 will be deducted from your membership fees if you decide to take up a membership and continue rowing after the trial has ended.

** £50 Parent Membership will be deducted from a Junior Membership if the Junior has a parent who already holds a membership of any kind.

Who do you race against?

The club is a member of the Hants and Dorset Amateur Rowing Association, which is the sports governing body for coastal rowing in Hampshire and Dorset. Regattas are organised during the summer months by most of the other clubs affiliated to the H&D ARA. The regattas organise races which are graded according to a crews ‘status’, so for example, all Novice crews will race against each other etc. The club is also affiliated to the U.K.’s national rowing governing body, British Rowing. The club regularly enters at ‘inland’ regattas on the River Thames and other venues run under the rules of British Rowing, especially during the autumn and winter months.

Who will teach me how to row?

The club has qualified rowing instructors who have all passed assessments organised by British Rowing. Qualifying for the British Rowing's Level 2 Coaching Award is the first step of several coaching qualifications that can be attained. We are always looking for people willing to coach and we will always encourage members to attain coaching awards.

Do I need to race?

No, you do not have to enter any races if you do not want to, although we find that most club members want to try out their newly learnt rowing skills against other like crews from other clubs. Recreational rowing for exercise and pleasure is a rapidly growing section of most rowing clubs.

How much do Regattas cost?

Regatta fees very depending on venue and the number of events you enter. Hants & Dorset fees range from £11 for one event plus £6 for every other event you enter at the same regatta - this includes the cost of towing all the boats to the venue. Regattas and Head Races run under British Rowing administration are generally about £5 to £10 more expensive per event.

How do I join?

If you are interested in trying rowing as a sport or for exercise and leisure then we first of all suggest you come along and try it. Contact our Club Captain (captain@itchenimperial.co.uk) to arrange a visit to the club or alternatively visit the club on a Tuesday evening between 6.30 and 8.00 p.m.