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Welcome to GGBC

The Goring Gap Boat Club is one of the largest recreational boating clubs in the Thames valley.

Membership is open to all, from youngsters gaining their first rowing experience to veterans with a life time on the river. Beginners are assured of a warm welcome, and a relaxed and safe introduction to the sport. No previous experience is required, and we provide tuition to all our new members.

The clubs' aims are simple - "...to make it possible for members to enjoy un-powered boating....". Over the years it's estimated that 1500 rowers have taken to the water under the guidance of GGBC, many of them competing in the ever popular Goring and Streatley Regatta.

The centrepiece of the club's activity is the annual Goring and Streatley Regatta, which combines fun racing (for all the family) with live entertainment, a fun fair, food, craft fairs and much more. It's a 'not to be missed' event with some 600 rowers competing and a crowd of over 5000 people. A great atmosphere for competing and a superb day out for all the family.


Make a note in your diary now - Saturday 16th July 2011


 

Created by Ewoud Dronkert

With the increased interest in rowing as both a leisure pursuit and a competitive sport GGBC has made strides towards providing some great facilities. Recent arrivals have been a superb coaching / safety launch, 4 brand new sculls, and a double gig. We've also purchased the less exotic items....cox box, blades etc that make everyone's rowing a better experience. See the Rowing page.

All are welcome to come along and try their hand at rowing .... it's great to be out on the river keeping fit, meeting new friends and enjoying the wonderful scenery. See the Membership page for full details.

If rowing sounds too much like hard work give the punts a go....

The club is currently based at the Oratory School boathouse  in Whitchurch on Thames, and also has facilities for punting at the Swan hotel in Streatley (ideal for a leisurely picnic with friends). We have a large range of boats available from single sculls to eights, the majority of our rowing being in stable fours and quad boats - ideal for getting to grips with the basics before moving on to the finer shells.


Click Map for directions

 


Fully Booked - Oct 2010
Click here for full details


Booking Closed - June 2010
Click here for details


Fully Booked - Feb 2010
Click here for details


The Teambuilding Activity
Click here for details

 

Goring Gap Annual Dinner Dance
Saturday 30th October @ Streatley Golf Club - Tickets available NOW. Just download a booking form to ensure your place at the rowing social event of the year. Live music, buffet meal and great company....what more could you ask for?

 

News    News Archive 2010   News Archive 2009   News Archive 2008    News Archive 2007   News Archive 2006

Learn2Row - the next L2R course in October is already fully booked! If you are interested in the spring 2011 course drop us a line and we'll add you to the mailing list. In the meantime why not come down to the club for a trial outing?

David Coombs - our ever faithfully Eton 8 has just had a revarnish - she's looking like new despite the rigors of last winter. Small Boats Tuesday - these ever popular extra sessions during the summer have come to an end.... You'll have to join us on Thursday and Sunday to get your sculling fix!

Row to Reading a great experience - On Sunday 10 GGBC members took advantage of the excellent Bank holiday weather (!!) and rowed to Thames Valley Park on the east of Reading.

Our convoy consisted of an eight, a single scull.....and most importantly Karl in his launch (with lunch on board).
 


 

With the Waterways festival in full swing at Child Beale the locks were rather busy....and conditions a little blustery, but despite this we came through unscathed.

.....and of course there was Reading Festive ..... lots of youngsters cheering us on our way....well I think it was encouragement! 

Our friends at Thames Valley Park RC were most welcoming and we put on an impressive spread of food for our lunchtime refuelling. Then it was back into the boats for the long journey home.....a slight damper experience than the row down.
 

 


An excellent day on the river. Many thanks to Ros for organising the event and to all those who took part.


Dinner Dance - booking form now on line - act now to avoid disappointment....


Boat for Sale - 85kg Glyn Locke wooden single, well looked after, £500ono, racked Maidenhead Tel 07779 250704

Pilates Classes - there are a few places available for these ever popular classes - Wednesday evenings 7-8pm at Goring Heath village hall. Cost - just £5 per session.

If you are interested please drop us a line.


Reading invite GGBC to race - We need two mixed crews to compete at the 'Make it 8' challenge at Reading Rowing Club - Sat 4th Sept - 2-5pm. 500m head to head - one beginners crews and one experienced .... so something for everyone. Don't be shy....we need YOU to represent the club!

Interested? Drop us a line.

Round the Island Head - just a reminder that this ever popular event is on Sunday 19th Sept.....scratch crews, intensive competition and a BBQ.


Dinner Dance tickets - Remember to keep Saturday 30th October free....for THE social event of the year. Ticket available soon.


New Boat arrives - okay an old boat but with new owners! We've just purchased a super fast octuple...that's eight scullers and a cox. In the right hands the fastest boat on the river. It went for a trial run on Sunday...the verdict, a really fun boat to row.

She is now being refurbished - checked over, glued and varnished.... but should be ready for action in a couple of weeks.

Picnic Rowing Trip 29th August - Would you like to venture further afield and row beyond our usual boundaries past the lock? We are hoping to do this on Sunday 29th August (bank holiday weekend). If you are able to join us between 10am and 3pm email ros.crowder@btinternet.com

You will need to bring something to drink and a contribution to the picnic. Here’s hoping for good weather!


Coupe des Dames / Messieurs  - 9/10 October 2010. Plans for the annual GGBC trip to complete on the international stage are well underway. If you'd like to come along and enjoy the fun then drop us a line - we're sorting out the transport arrangements now - to keep the costs as low as possible.

A superb weekend - fantastic hospitality, great food, lots of wine and dancing ..... plus a 15km race!

What better way to end the season than a top class race in sunny France.....


Learn2Row SPECIAL OFFER - If you book your place on the autumn course now we'll make you members immediately so you can get out onto the river throughout the summer. See the L2R page for full details

Places going fast....just four places left!


Coast Rowing experience - when a group of GGBC rowers were invited to sunny Devon for an outing in a coastal quad little did they expect to be racing in a local regatta! Ever up for a challenge they set out from shore with high hopes....taking care to watch out for oil tankers! The course was marked with huge buoys.....but even so they were just distant specs.


Coastal quad....big, strong and heavy
....just like the crew!


The Teign Scullers boat sets off for a
tough 8km sprint around the harbour


The girls left on the beach worrying about their boys at sea


Sunny Paignton - The Teign Scullers boat comes
in a excellent 4th place - 8km in 32mins

Many thanks to the Teign Scullers rowing club for a great weekend, and especially Sally & Adam Livett for their superb hospitality. Sally and Adam were on the very first Learn2Row course....and are still active rowers on the Teign estuary.

Coastal rowing is a whole new experience....tough, but still requiring excellent technique. The waves are rather off putting....the wash from a pleasure cruiser is nothing in comparison.


Regatta gallery now online - click here to relive the day

Learn2Row places going fast - if you want to join the next course then please act now.....half the places have already been snapped up! Full details here


Reading invite GGBC to race - after a stunning victory on Saturday RRC have asked the crews from GGBC to a return match at their corporate rowing regatta - Sat 4th Sept. Interested in taking on the competition? Drop us a line.

Small Boats Tuesdays are back - by popular demand the extra club session on Tuesday evening will be available throughout August. Just singles, doubles and pairs....and the safety launch just in case. Your chance to perfect your skills while the water is still warm!


Party Time - Reading RC are organising a party, BBQ and games to get to know the local clubs. Sat 24th July, starting at 3pm. Prices for the BBQ are £5 for adults and £3 for juniors/underage members, and bar prices will be the same as for RRC members - £2.50/pint of lager/cider. Let Sally know if you fancy going...

A BIG THANK YOU - to all of you who came to the regatta. It was a great day, fabulous weather, and a superb atmosphere.

A special thanks goes to all the GGBC members and friends who volunteered to organise and help over the past few months..... a great effort and an excellent result.


Regatta - What a fantastic Day! More pictures and news from the regatta coming soon...

Full Results:

Race

Winners

Men's coxed fours (beginner)

Concorde Solutions

Men's coxed fours (intermediate)

Making up the Numbers are Back

Men's coxed fours (Experienced)

Oarsmen of the Apocalypse

 

 

Women's coxed fours (beginner)

Catch us if you can

Women's coxed fours (intermediate)

Girl's Afloat

Women's coxed fours (Experienced)

Mummy's Boys

 

 

Mixed coxed fours (Beginners)

Good Prospects

Mixed coxed fours (Experienced)

Stoking Strokers

 

 

Men's single sculls (beginners)

Mike Morton

Women's single sculls (beginners)

Ros Crowder

 

 

Dongolas

Surface Tension

 

 

The Goring v Streatley Challenge

Streatley

 

 

Eights Invitation

Goring Gap Boat Club

 

 

Corporate Challenge

Prolinx

 

 

Consolation Plate

Tollbooth Marytrs


GGBC member gets GOLD! -One of Goring Gap Boat Club's younger members has put the club's reputation for relaxed recreational rowing at risk, firstly by being selected for the GB J-16 squad, and then by coxing the winning men's eight to victory over the French in the annual GB vs France match, held in Nantes. Neil McKenzie normally coxes for Abingdon School Boat Club, but you may well find him coxing a crew or two at Saturday's regatta!


No Club Rowing this week - if you haven't noticed it's the REGATTA this Saturday!


We still need more volunteers for the set-up (Wed, Thurs, Friday, on the day of the regatta, and the clear-up on Sunday. Contact Tim if you can help out.


That's Neil nearest the camera.....


Corporate Rowing Day a great success - Zenopa, a local company from High Wycombe visited GGBC for a fun afternoon on the river.....and in just 4 hours went from complete beginners to racing fine eights! 24 employees braved the scorching conditions to undertake a gruelling high intensity course in the noble art of rowing.


No holding back during the erg team challenge

First steps were on the ergs....where their technique was honed ready for the highly competitive erg challenge race. 4 team of 6 people locked in head to head combat - a great effort from all involved with the winning team just creeping over the line in front of their rivals.


Crews locked in a final 500m race - superb rowing from a crew that had only just taken to the water!

The main competition was during the final half hour of the day - skill plus speed were the key ingredients. The top crew in the chopping and minimum strokes  were the Proactive

Pussycats...but on the final race the Ownership Otters took a convincing victory. Overall a tie for first place...a fitting results for these talented crews.


The Ownership Otters after a stunning final race


Zenopa crews celebrate after a fantastic day of rowing

Well done to all the crews on what proved to be an exhausting physical and mental challenge....you did superbly well.

Also many thanks to all the GGBC and Oratory members who did such a great job getting the rowers up to speed.

Interested in a corporate team build day? It's a great way to reward your staff and learn some important team building skills
 

see the Corp rowing webpage for full details


Race Card available online - A sneak preview of the superb 2010 race card for the Goring & Streatley regatta. Articles, competitions, site plan with exhibitors and of course most importantly details of the days packed programme of racing.

You'll get a free printed copy when you come to the regatta - a collectors item for sure. In the meantime take a look at all the exciting events planned for the regatta.....it's sure to be a great day for all the familly!

Many thanks to Loraine and Pete for all their hard work bring the race card together.


Regatta Information

Crew Information:
  
 
Regatta Draw
    Running Order
    Instructions for Crews
    Circulation plan

Risk assessments:
    Regatta Training
    Regatta - dry side
    Regatta - wet side

Safety:
    Safety Plan
    Incident Reporting

Officials:
    Notes for Officials


Regatta Volunteers Needed - we urgently need your help!

      - set up the regatta site (14th -16th July),
      - help on the day (17th July)
      - assist with the clear up (18th July).

If you can spare some time then please let Tim know ASAP – he’ll co-ordinate your efforts and direct you to the right place.

Pre-Regatta BBQ
Thursday 8th July, 6pm -
Oratory Boathouse

We provide the fire....all you need to do is bring some food to cook and a few drinks to wash it down!

All are welcome


 

Useful Bits

Google

WWW GGBC

Weather Forecast

Reading, UK

Environment Agency
River Conditions
Lock Closures


Add GGBC to
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GGBC postal address - Goring Gap Boat Club, Hon Secretary, Court Hill, Hardwick, Whitchurch on Thames, RG8 7RB

 

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