Sons of the Thames is a rowing club in

Hammersmith Hammersmith is a district of West London, England, southwest of Charing Cross. It is the administrative centre of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. ...

, London, England. It was formed in Putney in 1886 with the aim, still enshrined in its constitution, to further the sport of rowing.

History

Originally a tradesmen's club, thus open to those in manual work, that boated from

Erith Erith () is an area in south-east London, England, east of Charing Cross. Before the creation of Greater London in 1965, it was in the historical county of Kent. Since 1965 it has formed part of the London Borough of Bexley. It lies nort ...

, the club by the date of its formal constitution had moved up river to Putney, boating from the Duke's Head, and then to Hammersmith. The latest move, since 2000, shares there Linden House, on the promenade known as Upper Mall, with

London Corinthian Sailing Club The London Corinthian Sailing Club is based on the river Thames at Hammersmith. Its activities include Dinghy sailing and racing on the river, and yachting in the Solent and further afield, as well as an active social side including 'Club Night ...

. The sailing club enjoys a 999-year lease. The club welcomes novices and offers a Learn to Row course each summer. More experienced members and graduates moving on from university boat clubs are also very welcome and will be integrated into the training squads for Henley and other regattas. The club's official founding date is 1886, however there is evidence of crews racing under the "Sons of the Thames" name at least as far back as 1865. See also Joseph Sadler Crew Races.

Possible connections

In 1861, Herbert Playford created the Sons of the Thames Regatta, to bring forward new junior rowers. The race was held on the Thames between Putney and Hammersmith and had the distinction that the competitors must not use slides. There are also mentions of a society called Sons of the Thames Society formed before 1790 to celebrate the annual

Doggett's Coat and Badge Doggett's Coat and Badge is the prize and name for the oldest rowing race in the world. Up to six apprentice watermen of the River Thames in England compete for this prestigious honour, which has been held every year since 1715. The 4 mile 5 ...

sculling race.

Results

Henley Royal Regatta

Sons of the Thames enjoyed success in the 1960s, winning twice at Henley. * 1964, Wyfold Challenge Cup * 1968, Silver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge Cup, AJ Sutton & PJW Sharp.

Henley Women's Regatta

Sons of the Thames are the 2010 winners of the Frank Harry Cup at Henley Women's Regatta, setting a new course record. * 2010,

Frank Harry Cup Frank or Franks may refer to: People * Frank (given name) * Frank (surname) * Franks (surname) * Franks, a medieval Germanic people * Frank, a term in the Muslim world for all western Europeans, particularly during the Crusades - see Farang Curre ...

: James Renwick + Cat Hart, Emily Wright, Lyndsay Campbell and

Pippa Blockley Pippa may refer to: * Pippa (given name) * Pippa Bacca (1974-2008), performance artist * Kelly Ripa (born 1970), nicknamed Pippa, American talk show host Fictional characters * Pippa Cross, a character in books by Libba Bray * Pippa Ross, a chara ...

British Championships

1985 British Rowing Championships The 1985 National Rowing Championships was the 14th edition of the National Championships, held from 20–21 July 1985 at the National Water Sports Centre in Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham. Senior Medal summary * dead heat for first place ...

, Women 2x, Women L2x *

1986 British Rowing Championships The 1986 National Rowing Championships was the 15th edition of the National Championships, held from 18–20 July 1986 at the National Water Sports Centre in Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham. Senior Medal summary Lightweight Medal summary ...

, Women 2-

Dewar Shield

Sons of the Thames, along with Auriol Kensington Rowing Club and Furnivall Sculling Club organise a yearly head race, the winners of which receive the Dewar Challenge Shield. The race covers half the Championship Course in the opposite direction, starting at Chiswick Bridge and finishing at Hammersmith Bridge. The shield is named after Alice Dewar, a Furnival Captain in 1909. However, there are many other "Dewar Challenge Shields" that were presented by

Sir Thomas Dewar Thomas Robert "Tommy" Dewar, 1st Baron Dewar (6 January 1864 – 11 April 1930) was a Scottish whisky distiller who, along with his brother John Dewar, built their family label, Dewar's, into an international success. They blended their whis ...

dating from around the same time and which are very similar in design, so it's possible the origins of the shield may be different.

References

External links

* {{United Kingdom rowing clubs Tideway Rowing clubs Sports clubs and teams established in 1886 1886 establishments in England Sport in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Rowing clubs of the River Thames