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Adult Learn-to-Row

Learn to Row—three short words that could change your life. Rowing isn’t just a sport; it’s a journey. It builds strength, fitness, confidence and focus using 85% of your muscles, improving flexibility and balance and all with low injury risk. But more than that, it’s about community, competition, and discovering what you’re truly capable of — at any age. Rowing is a sport for life and one you can continue into your 70s, 80s, or even 90s.

Many clubs offer a few hours of volunteer-led sculling. We offer more. At Marlow Rowing Club, we provide both sweep (rowing) and sculling options, professional coaching, and some of the best coxes around. Our Adult Learn To Row training takes place on a stunning non-tidal stretch of the Thames, with a fleet of modern boats ranging from stable beginner shells to £30,000 lightweight racing boats. You’ll learn in a structured group setting led by coaches with over 100 years of combined experience, including multiple former national champions who share a deep passion for the sport.

We’re a competitive club, and we’re particularly keen to hear from high level athletes from other sports—whether you’re a former swimmer , runner, footballer, rugby player, gymnast or cyclist looking for your next challenge. Rowing is a sport you can compete in for life, and we can take you further faster. Many of our students progress from their first strokes to racing on the Tideway and even Henley Royal Regatta qualifiers in their first year.

Here’s what one of our members has to say about their journey into rowing:

“I started rowing 18 months ago in my late 50s, never expecting where it would take me. Since then, I’ve raced four Tideway events, competed at summer regattas, and found a focus, fitness, and community I never could’ve dreamt of. Rowing has given me a new challenge, a new passion, and a team of like-minded people. If you’re ready to push yourself and try something truly different, come and join us—you won’t regret it.”

The courses start in April 2025 with the first of 3 “Taster Sessions”  which give people a sense of what the sport involves and provides an opportunity to look around the club, chat to some of our members / mentors,   receive two hours of hours coaching and get a real feel for the course, the coaches, our club and the sport.  It will take about 3 hours and it’s a lot of fun!    The cost is £20, payable in advance from our website. 

You must have attended a taster session prior to joining the course.  

Taster sessions 

Saturday 26th April 

Sunday 27th April      

Sunday 15th June  

All taster sessions run from 2pm until 5pm. Please leave plenty of time to park in one of the public car parks in Marlow town centre.

We are holding two 5 week courses this year, on  6th May  and 24th June with a choice days and times, with each lesson 90 minutes long.      We are sorry but the course days and times are not interchangeable, so please make sure you can finish the course you sign up to.   If you need to, or want to, you can buy ‘missed lessons’ from our website.   

Course days and times

  • Tues and Fri 6.30 am – 8 am
  • Tuesday and Fri 9.30 am – 11 am
  • Sat and Sun 2pm – 3.30 pm

We are also introducing two intensive 4 day courses this year.     They are half day courses starting at 9.30 and finishing at 1.45.

Monday 9th June to Thursday 12th June  

Monday 28th July to Thursday 31st July

Course Dates For 2025

Tuesday 6th May                                                                     1st course starts  (ends Sunday 8th June)

Monday 9th June to Thursday 12th June                 Intensive course

Tuesday 24th June                                                              2nd course starts (ends Sunday 27th July)

Monday 28th July – Thursday 31st July                        Intensive course


Costs:

  • Course costs – £399  (Unemployed/Student  £299)
  • 121 sessions –     £35 per person per 1 hour session
  • 4 day Intensive course – £475 (includes the cost of the bronze assessment)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe?

Yes. You will be given a stable boat, and buoyancy aids are available on request.  Single scullers will be accompanied by a safety launch at all times. We encourage all of our participants to read the supporting documents provided.

What should I bring?

We ask that all participants come prepared with comfortable sports kit including trainers, a complete change of clothes and a towel in the event of a capsize, a waterproof top, a water bottle, sun cream and a sun hat, and an open mind and plenty of enthusiasm!

What next?

Our aim, which about 80% of students achieve, is that by the end of six weeks you will have the boat handling skills, safety awareness and discipline that will allow you to join the club and a squad (subject to there being capacity for new members).

Immediately following ALTR there are 3 distinct destination squads:

1 – Development Squad – a fast track route to competition for those with competitive ambitions and the physiology and time to cope with a demanding program. Your first race is likely to be in the summer in 8’s at Maidenhead, or Wallingford in November for wave 3 students. If you’ve competed at a high level in other sports this could be the squad for you. 

2 – Improvers Squad – a slightly gentler paced but still challenging training squad following a program that will see them race through the winter season including racing on the Tideway – known to most people as the Boat Race course.

3 – Go Row. If options 1 and 2 sound a bit serious (they are) then the GR squad is for those who are happy to learn at a gentler pace and who may have recreational rather than competitive ambitions.