Abingdon RC are seeking to improve their facilities as they begin their second 50 years.The club, who were founded in 1958, moved to their present riverside site after an initial three years in a Nissan hut next to a swimming pool.
They have added a new boathouse extension, but captain Jon Rooney says: “We are in desperate need of investment.
“Despite the recent extension, the original boathouse is in a poor state and lacks decent land training facilities, changing rooms and, most importantly, a club room for members to meet.”
The club is clearly ready for greater things.
Rooney says: “We have about 100 members the majority being full senior and veteran with about 15 juniors.
“We recruited a number of new juniors from Larkmead School, amongst them Marcus Rowe, a J14 with great potential who he managed fifth place at this year’s British Indoor Championships.
To support the link with the school, the club received a grant of over £9,000 from the National Lottery Awards for All programme.
Rooney, an ARA bronze qualified coach, is happy that 2008 proved so successful.
David Tanner a product of Abingdon School and Britain’s Rowing’s Performance Director since 1996, had a CBE added to his OBE in the New Year’s Honours List
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