High Performance Rowing Centre on Lower Field

Welcome to a historic milestone for the Abingdon School Boat Club. For nearly 200 years, rowing has been woven into the fabric of Abingdon life - from our early days on the river in 1830 and our first Henley appearance in 1960, to our standing today as a consistent top 10 national rowing school.

As we look forward, school rowing has never been faster, more professional, or more competitive. To ensure our rowers keep their hard-earned seat at the elite level, we are creating a new Indoor Rowing Centre on Lower Field.

Why now? Turning challenges into competitive advantage

While Abingdon remains unapologetically academic, we are fiercely committed to giving our athletes the best possible environment to excel. In recent years, unpredictable winter weather and intense rainfall have led to critical lost time on the river.

By converting the old rifle range into a state-of-the-art training facility right on the school site, we are lowering barriers to success:

• Maximising training time: mitigating loss of river time during high-water periods.
• Working with the school timetable: Saving travel time to and from the boathouse during peak timetable periods..
• A rowing home on site: A dedicated, visible hub at school to inspire the next generation of rowers.

Dynamic rowing technology: the RP3 advantage

The centre will be fully equipped with RP3 ergs, which mimic the true feel of water-based training whilst significantly minimising injury risk in young athletes.

The Data-Driven coaching insights: The RP3 setup features synchronised data analysis during squad training and remote coach access. This allows real-time technical adjustments, accelerating crew development.

A vision for inclusivity and excellence

Abingdon rowing is built on depth and breadth, supporting over 150 rowers from J14 to the 1st VIII. This new space is designed to benefit everyone - balancing high performance with widespread participation.

Future ambitions include securing access to a lake-based rowing site - financial support will be critical to achieve this, and we look forward to sharing updates when possible.

Welcoming a new era of coeducation

September marks an exciting new chapter as Abingdon welcomes girls into the Sixth Form and First Year. Our vision is to integrate the senior girls into the Boat Club from day one, starting with competitive sculling in their first year and building toward sweep rowing. This dedicated facility ensures both male and female athletes train alongside one another with equal access to resources.

The Abingdon Boat Club ethos

Our mission goes far beyond just moving a boat backward quickly. We use rowing to forge character, encouraging our students to:

• Work Hard & Aim High: Develop the self-motivation and dedication required to reach their maximum potential.
• Build Resilience: Learn to handle setbacks, adapt quickly to adversity, and focus on continuous progress.
• Row as a Team: Contribute to the collective energy, leadership, and excitement of the squad.
• Maintain Balance: Strive for national sporting excellence while thriving academically and contributing to the outstanding Other Half that is the hallmark of an Abingdon education..

Your Support

With a projected project cost of £150,000 the school is looking for sponsorship for this ambitious new training centre, with an opportunity for naming rights. In addition our coaching team has a wish list for specific training equipment. Your support will ensure we can complete this new rowing facility to a professional athletic standard designed to support student potential and future-proof Abingdon's wider rowing programme.

Current equipment priorities

• Concept 2 Erg Bikes: (£1,200) – crucial for off-water aerobic cross-training.
• Sculling Telemetry Sets: (£8,000 total) – to equip our incoming girls' boats with the same data tracking currently used by the boys.
• fleet of RP3 technology ergs - thanks to our phenomenal Boat Club parents these are now secured.

Leaving your legacy

We wish to recognise the community of OAs and parents making this possible. All donors will have the opportunity to be permanently recognised within the new facility:

• Crew board: naming the OAs and families supporting this bespoke project.
• Dedication blades: Feature your family or someone important to you within the internal design of the high-performance space.

Be part of the story

Nearly two centuries after Abingdon rowers first hit the water, our story enters a bold new era. We face the future in fighting shape and we would love for you to be part of the journey.

Want to learn more or support the project? Please contact Alexa or Harriet in the Development Team to discuss how you can get involved.