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The Goring Gap Boat Club was founded in 1991 by a small group who
enjoyed messing about on the river but who realised that most people
who live in Goring and Streatley did not have access to one of the
most beautiful reaches of the Thames. With this aim, some craft were
acquired and a base was found at Thames Bank Nursing Home in Goring
- the Boat Club was born. The principal aim of the Club was, and
still is, to enable local people to enjoy this beautiful stretch of
the river through the use of un-powered boats.
Later, whilst sitting in a local hostelry, the founder members of
the Boat Club also raised the idea of reviving the Goring and
Streatley Regatta. This had been a major local attraction for 26
years until the outbreak of the First World War. In 1992 the first
modern day Goring and Streatley Regatta was held on its original
site at Bishop's field just above Cleeve Lock. Boats were borrowed,
marquees raised, and a great time was had by all. The revived
Regatta was declared a great success. Since then the Regatta, hosted
by the Goring Gap Boat Club, has gone from strength to strength.
Over 600 competitors took part in the many rowing and other boating
events in last year's event, with nearly 6000 people coming to join
in the fun and enjoy the many bank side activities also provided in
addition to the river activities.
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We
estimate that over the years well over 1500 local people have
participated in the rowing and other water borne competitions, some
of whom have gone on to compete at national level
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When the club was first re-established it was based at the Boat
House of the Thames Bank Nursing Home. However we had to leave that
site when the Nursing Home was redeveloped, and since then the
Goring Gap Boat Club has been trying to find a permanent new home.
The Boat Club's dilemma has been compounded by the lack of any
obvious alternative site on the river despite an extensive search
over the last 6 years. For a couple of years we were fortunate to be
able to use the Swan Hotel in Streatley as a temporary base. We
hoped to be able to build a boathouse on the site, but were
unsuccessful in a number of planning applications.
However, just when we despaired of ever finding a new home, we were
made a generous offer by the Oratory School who have a very well
equipped boathouse at Whitchurch, a few miles downstream from Goring
and Streatley. We are able to rack our boats at their boathouse, and
launch from a hard standing onto a very picturesque stretch of river.
We have kept our punts and rowing dinghy at the Swan, and we are
still working hard to find a permanent home in the Goring Gap, where
we can finally keep our boats under cover, and fulfil our founding
aims - enable local people to enjoy a beautiful stretch of river.
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