Goring Gap Boat Club

One of the first post lock down Thames Valley Explore Rowing League events was held in February. GGBC sent 6 crews and all the Charles Stanley Boats. No winners (Molesey did well on their home turf!) but lots of fun was had. We normally get a couple of crews out to these recreational events so six was extraordinary! The event list for the year is being published soon so check out the website for what’s coming up. Next stop is The Dart – a 15km race from Totnes to Dartmouth! Fingers crossed for good weather or we might have to rename a boat the Titanic.

A set of new to us, but preloved pontoons have arrived. The men in orange are showing our team of volunteers how to fit them together – apparently it’s just like Lego! We will need a few work parties to get our pontoon swapped over. These are more robust, longer lasting and sit lower in the water than our existing pontoons making for easier arrival and departure. For now, the new pontoon is only slightly longer than the current length but the long term plan is to extend to the full length we have planning permission for as our membership base increases and we find the money to pay for them. Worth noting that the club pays the Environment Agency by the meter for pontoons so a longer pontoon has ongoing additional running costs. Big thank you to Roger who did a huge amount of work sourcing these from a range of potential suppliers.

We have decided not to run the G&S regatta this year. We have a lot on with a boat house to finish, new pontoons to install (purchased and coming in a month or two) and a big focus on getting as many members as possible improving and enjoying their rowing. We will instead be organising a race day at our club and potentially inviting other local recreational crews to come along so look out for notices on that. I am sure there will be a Goring and Streatley Regatta Revival in the future!

The Goring and Streatley Regatta, organised by the Goring Gap Boat Club, has been a regular fixture on our village’s calendar since its revival in 1991. Initially run annually, in recent years we have run it biannually, alternating with the Goring Gap Festival. The regatta has always been equal parts rowing and the entertainment and catering on the river bank. As you can imagine planning, organising and running the regatta requires a large team of volunteers, a dedicated committee working over many months, and a not-inconsiderable financial investment for site preparation and facilities. Profits from the regatta, in years when it didn’t rain, were an important factor in allowing the boat club to build our boathouse by Gatehampton Bridge.

However, with the responsibilities of constructing and maintaining our new facility, an expanding rowing membership and with an increased focus on our learn to row courses and coaching, our pool of volunteers is stretched to the limit. While we haven’t made our final decision, we think that while the club can cope with organizing the on-water events at a regatta, we no longer have the capacity to organize the full-scale regatta, with entertainment, music, food, craft stall and a funfair.  From our club’s perspective the options are either;

1. to run a ‘water only’ regatta – still inviting village entries and providing training over June and early July or,
2. alternatively, running the regatta in partnership with an organization, club, or a dedicated team of volunteers that would work with the club and take on organising (and benefitting from) the land-based events to make a ‘traditional’ regatta – or maybe bring new ideas for an improved event.

It seems a pity to let a village tradition fall by the wayside, so if there are groups who would be interested in working with us to organize the 2023 event, we ask that you contact the club’s committee by email chairman@goringgapbc.org.uk. The committee would be happy to meet with interested groups to discuss options in greater detail.

GGBC rowers had a great time at the Phyllis Court Time Trials in October. The races are handicapped by age so I am not sure what that says about the age of this lot! I think they probably just rowed hard because they were hungry and the lovely post competition brunch was calling.