Bristol Ariel Rowing Club, founded in 1870, is the oldest rowing

Rowing (sport)

Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...

 club in Bristol

Bristol

Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...

. It is located at St Annes, Bristol and has access to 5 km of the River Avon.

History

The club was originally based on a barge near Bristol Bridge, in the city centre. In 1884 the clubhouse was replaced with "The Barge", which was a French frigate captured in the Napoleonic wars. The Barge housed all the club’s boats and documents and a cockroach infested changing room for the rowers. In around 1892, the Barge sprang a leak and sank just as she was due to be repaired, and much was lost. However she was raised, drained and used as clubhouse for another 8 years. In 1900, the club moved to St.Anne’s where the present clubhouse was built.

In the Second World War, the club was hit in a bombing raid on the pumphouse and the railway line behind it. With few active members left, the building fell into disrepair and boats were abandoned until after the war.

Bristol Ariel Rowing Club has fostered many rowers at all levels over the years. The one who went the furthest in his rowing career was Nicholas Birkmyre

Nicholas Birkmyre

Nicholas John Birkmyre is a former rower who competed for Great Britain in the 1960 Olympic games and won Double Sculls Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta four times....

, who won Double Sculls Challenge Cup

Double Sculls Challenge Cup

The Double Sculls Challenge Cup is a rowing event for men's double sculls at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs. Two clubs may combine to make an entry....

 four times at Henley

Henley Royal Regatta

Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...

 and came fourth rowing at the 1960 Summer Olympics

Rowing at the 1960 Summer Olympics

Rowing at the 1960 Summer Olympics featured 7 events, for men only. The competitions were held from August 30, 1960 to September 3, 1960 on the Lago di Albano.-Medal summary:-Medal table:-References:*...

in Rome.