New clubhouse for Runcorn Rowing and Canoe Club

Our Project  

Our gym, changing rooms and boat/canoe storage facilities are in need of urgent repair as they are now very old and aren't fully accessible for all our members.  

We have been working with architects Glancy Nichols and Cost consultants Certo on preliminary designs for an ambitious project (£1-2m) to develop a new clubhouse, that will provide larger changing facilities, community social area, kitchen, adaptive toilets, gym and additional boat storage.

We have a small team working with the architects and need funds to pay for baseline surveys, professional fees and the planning application (estimated £50,000).

Fundraising

We are applying for a variety of funds and grants as well as asking members, businesses, and local communities to contribute sponsorship money. We raised just over  £10,000 before Christmas with our 'virtual Row to Australia event' and hope to raise £5,000 with this Crowd Funding event. 

We are determined to continue to provide access to the water for all our members and to support others wishing to access the River Weaver from the Rowing Club on Cholmondeley Road.  

As well as running our successful annual events (which attract over 300 competitors), we offer a range of community volunteering opportunities including, boat maintenance, coaching, facilities management, umpires, committee, coxes, launch drivers and catering.  

We have been donated a range of rewards by club members and local business, in exchange for your donations.   Or you can simply donate without a reward. Remember if you are a tax payer we can collect gift aid on qualifying donations that adds an extra 25% on every pound you donate, we will however need your name and address.

The benefits of our development

Rowing and canoeing both on and off the water is a great way to develop your fitness or to stay physically active.  Regular exercise, fun and companionship in all weathers contributes to our general well-being and good health.  Membership is cheaper than the gym and we run regular land based activities (indoor rowing, circuits, yoga, weights) to help our overall fitness. The River Weaver Navigation is a fantastic local resource for water sports, it is wide with a low flow rate and over 12km of navigable water from the clubhouse is the longest stretch of navigable water in the north west.

We cater for all ages and abilities (including adaptive or para rowing). Our boats can cater for recreational rowers, sculling and rowing in singles or crew boats (up to 8's) and a wide range of canoes.  We compete in long distance events as well as Regional, National and World championships (Head races and regattas).  We provide qualified coaching and entry level courses to enable beginners to get on the water safely.

We hope to be able to expand our membership with these new facilities and also to open the facilities for community activities and hire. 

Local and National support

We are working with local schools, the University of Liverpool, the Canal and River Trust and our National Governing bodies (British Rowing and British Canoe) as well as the local councils who are supportive of our plans.

Lockdown

We are currently not able to access the club due to lockdown, but we are still running virtual events such as indoor races using our innovative race software, weekly circuits, erg (indoor rowing) sessions and squad chat and exercise together. 

Testimonials

Our members and parents are supportive of our development proposals with the following testimonials:

Jackie Hamer (Womens Squad Vice Captain)

The River Weaver is beautiful, and we are fortunate to have such a long stretch of largely traffic-free water on which to train.  The new, meticulously designed, aesthetically pleasing clubhouse would be attractive to newcomers to the sports of rowing and kayaking, able to accommodate many new members and equipment, as well as being a much-needed upgrade to the current facilities.

Josh Edwards (canoe Club)

The gym facility looks brilliant and a vast improvement on what we have already. I look forward to this as it progresses

Steve Marnell (Canoe Club) 

The canoe club committee are in favour of a large boathouse… as this is more likely to provide the greatest increase in benefits for the site and for existing and future rowing / canoeing participants.

Andy Butterworth (Junior coach)

This is the start of something great for us all at RRC 

Ron Pattie (Grandparent) 

The Runcorn Rowing Club has been so beneficial for my grandson Mark Pattie, Adaptive squad.

Janice Herrod (Members sister) 

Best of luck with fundraising! I've visited many rowing clubs (in my time), but rarely have I seen any bordering such an eminently rowable stretch of water as RRC. - Free of tidal drawbacks and encumbrances.

Sue Sljivic (Development co-ordinator) 

I have been rowing at Runcorn for the last 25 years and am really excited to be involved with the development of this project.

Anne Hignell (Club Secretary)

My husband , daughters and I have been involved with the club for the past 18 years. We made friends, we learned a fantastic sport and we became competitors; our children continued in the sport when they left home and moved away. 

These last few years the club has been a mainstay in my life during my widowhood; it has been a support and a constant in my life during difficult times. I’m so glad I’m part of RRC.