Originally located in Eton, just to the east of the Eton & Windsor bridge, Eton Excelsior Rowing Club was a ramshackle, but vibrant boat shed on the river Thames. Nothing compared to today’s stunning boathouse in its own leafy grounds, it stood firm through fire, flood and two World Wars for more than 170 years. 

As redevelopment along the Thames in Eton took hold, the Boathouse facilities for EERC were moved to Andrews Boat House at the base of the Olympic Rowing Lake at Dorney with direct access to the Bray – Boveney stretch. Shortly thereafter, the new and current location was secured, along with Sport England funds and a shiny new boathouse with heating and hot water was erected on the opposite side of the river, next to Windsor Marina. What would the Gentlemen of the 1830s make of the modern comforts afforded to male and female athletes of all ages in 2026?

The current EERC is built upon a strong foundation of its rich history, including its winning successes, its sad loss of life in both World Wars, its shared community values, which have given rise to two local school boat clubs and the ethos of sport for all.

Windsor and Eton Royal Regatta

The first Windsor and Eton Regatta was held on the river Thames in 1841, according to the ‘Windsor and Eton Express’ newspaper report which stated that “The tenth annual regatta will take place on Tuesday, August 26th, 1851, the Birthday of His Royal Highness Prince Albert.”

This accords with an 1841 report which said “We understand that a regatta is in contemplation, to take place about the middle of August. Although on a small scale at present, we hope that Windsor Regatta next year may rank equal, if not superior to the Henley … we hope that the inhabitants of Windsor and Eton … will show their desire to encourage it in attaining their end.”

In 1896, the Lock to Lock Times suggested the even earlier beginning of 1836: “Sixty years have passed since the Windsor and Eton Regatta was established and undoubtedly it is one of the oldest aquatic fixtures on the Thames, it being founded even before the great Henley meeting.”

In 1876 Windsor’s local newspaper referred to the “Windsor & Eton Royal Regatta” and it being “open to all Gentlemen Amateurs”.

The Course

During its long history, the Regatta has used three different reaches of the Thames near Windsor:

1. The ‘Town Reach’ in Windsor with racing downstream along the Brocas towards Windsor Bridge.
   In 1874, we read in the Shipping and Mercantile Gazette that “This fashionable meeting took place yesterday, at Windsor, under exceptionally favourable circumstances. Enjoying the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Christian, the Dukes of Westminster and Buccleuch, Mr Richard Gardner, MP, and a long list of distinguished personages.”
   In 1913, the regatta was held under the patronage of the King and Queen, Prince and Princess Christian, Princess Henry of Battenberg, and Prince and Princess Alexander of Battenberg.
2. The ‘Datchet Reach’ alongside the Home Park Private, between the Victoria and Albert bridges.
   In 1899, the Regatta was held there “by gracious permission of the Queen” and “the picturesque river bank was thronged with ladies in the daintiest of costumes … the scene being quite a Henley miniature.”
   In 1902, Edward and Albert, the sons of the Prince and Princess of Wales, rode their bicycles along the Regatta course watching the racing.
   Most recently, this course was used for the 60th Anniversary Regatta of the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, held on 15th and 16th June 2013, with her Majesty in attendance for Day 2 of racing and prize-giving by Sir Steve Redgrave
3. The ‘Bray Reach’, where EERC is now located, between the Oakley Court Hotel and Bray Studios. The last regatta was held here in 1969.

To celebrate the Bicentenary of EERC, one of the oldest and most historic rowing clubs in the country, we are setting out to host a celebratory club regatta event on the Club’s home stretch on Sunday 28th June 2026.

The Bicentenary Regatta is a side-by-side race event over a distance of 800m, attracting hundreds of athletes across a full day of racing in multiple events. This celebration of rowing in our local arena will give many athletes from other local clubs an opportunity rarely afforded to them — the opportunity to row and race on our stunning home water: the Bray to Boveney stretch.

Core to the event is the opportunity afforded to local novice and development rowers with a series of races catering specifically to these crews, both in Explorer class boats and fine racing shells.

Celebratory events will feature EERC alumni from previous years of all abilities, in a series of scratch races set across a ‘Best of Three’ format. Race one will ease them back into the boat, race two will fire up their muscle memory, and race three will bring it all together as they once again excel, feel the rhythm of the boat and enjoy the thrill of being back on the water.

The 2026 Private Match Bicentenary Regatta celebratory event is a once-in-our-history opportunity — a chance for the local rowing community to come together to have fun and race — and perhaps most importantly, it may be the culmination of a dream of a tiny group of gentlemen gathered in their ramshackle boathouse, with their oversized rough-hewn blades, their modest rowing uniforms some 200 years ago, not so far away along the banks of the River Thames.

• Open Junior Girls Eights+
• Open Junior Boys Eights+
• Open Junior Girls Quads
• Open Junior Boys Quads
• Open Junior Girls Octo Eights+
• Open Junior Boys Octo Eights+
• Open Womens Quads+
• Open Mens Quads+
• Masters Womens Quads
• Masters Mens Quads
• Masters Novice Womens Quads
• Masters Novice Mens Quads
• Open Womens Eight+
• Open Mens Eight+
• Masters Womens Eights+
• Masters Mens Eights+
• Masters Mixed Eights+
• EXPLORER Mixed Quads+
• EXPLORER Skills Mixed Quads+
• EXPLORER Mixed Novice Quads+
• EXPLORER Junior Parents Quads+ Challenge
• Alumni Mixed Quads+
• Alumni Womens Quads+
• Alumni Mens Quads+
• Alumni Womens Eights+
• Alumni Mens Eights+

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