Eton College Boat Club is a rowing club based on the River Thames, at Eton College, Windsor and at the Eton Rowing Centre on Dorney Lake.
History The Club belongs to Eton College and was founded in 1840 although there are earlier references to rowing at the college (as early as 1791). In 1818, Eton challenged Westminster to a race and in 1829, a race actually took place. This race was known as 'The Challenge'. This race was reinitiated in 2019. The college has a significant record of producing a number of junior national champions and regatta champions and has won the Schools' Head of the River Race a record 14 times, the Queen Mother Challenge Cup at the National Schools' Regatta a record 20 times and the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta a record 15 times. Eton has also won the Ladies' Challenge Plate 24 times and the Visitors' Challenge Cup once.
Former pupils known as Old Etonians have their own rowing club called the Eton Vikings Club and include Matthew Pinsent, Constantine Louloudis and Ed Coode.
Coaching Pupil-coaches were a fundamental part of the rowing structure at Eton College Boat Club in the 19th and early 20th centuries. During this period, the coaching of lower boats was predominantly handled by senior students, specifically members of the "Monarch" (the top ten-oared crew) and other senior oarsmen who were often under the general supervision of a master (such as the famous oarsman and Headmaster Dr Warre) or visiting Old Etonians. In 2024, the coaching team, which includes both teaching staff and dedicated, specialized coaches, receives mentorship and training to align with the club's high-performance philosophy. Junior coaches are guided by a Head of Rowing and experienced coaches (such as previous Henley-winning coaches) to ensure high-quality technical instruction in both rowing and sculling.
Honours British champions +YearWinning crew 1972 Men J18 8+ 1973 Men J18 2-, Men J18 4-, Men J18 8+ 1974 Men J18 8+ 1975 MJ18 4x 1976 Men J18 1x 1977 Men J18 2+, Men J18 8+, Men J16 8+ 1978 Men J18 4-, Men J18 4+ 1982 Victor Ludorum, Men J18 4+, Men J16 2+, Men J16 8+ 1985 Men J18 4+ 1986 Men J16 2-, Men J16 4+, Men J16 8+ 1987 Men J16 8+ 1988 Men J16 2+, Men J16 8+ 1989 Men J18 8+ 1991 Men J16 8+ 1993 Men J18 8+, Men J16 4+, Men J16 4- 1994 Men J18 8+ 1996 Men J16 8+ 1997 Men J16 4-, Men J16 8 1998 Men J16 4-, Men J16 8 2000 Men J18 2- 2012 Open J18 2-
Key= J junior, 2, 4, 8 crew size, 18, 16, 15, 14 age group, x sculls, - coxless, + coxed
National Schools' Regatta +YearWinning crew 1972 Queen Mother Challenge Cup 1973 Queen Mother Challenge Cup 1974 Queen Mother Challenge Cup 1977 Queen Mother Challenge Cup 1978 Queen Mother Challenge Cup 1983 Queen Mother Challenge Cup 1989 Queen Mother Challenge Cup 1990 Queen Mother Challenge Cup 1991 Queen Mother Challenge Cup 1994 Queen Mother Challenge Cup 1995 Queen Mother Challenge Cup 1996 Queen Mother Challenge Cup 1998 Queen Mother Challenge Cup 2007 Queen Mother Challenge Cup 2009 Queen Mother Challenge Cup 2010 Queen Mother Challenge Cup 2011 Queen Mother Challenge Cup 2021 Queen Mother Challenge Cup 2022 Queen Mother Challenge Cup
Henley Royal Regatta +YearWinning crew 1864 Ladies' Challenge Plate 1866 Ladies' Challenge Plate, Town Challenge Cup (men) 1867 Ladies' Challenge Plate, Town Challenge Cup (men) 1868 Ladies' Challenge Plate 1869 Ladies' Challenge Plate, Town Challenge Cup (men) 1870 Ladies' Challenge Plate, Town Challenge Cup (men) 1882 Ladies' Challenge Plate 1884 Ladies' Challenge Plate 1885 Ladies' Challenge Plate 1893 Ladies' Challenge Plate 1893 Ladies' Challenge Plate 1894 Ladies' Challenge Plate 1895 Ladies' Challenge Plate 1896 Ladies' Challenge Plate 1897 Ladies' Challenge Plate 1898 Ladies' Challenge Plate 1899 Ladies' Challenge Plate 1904 Ladies' Challenge Plate 1905 Ladies' Challenge Plate 1910 Ladies' Challenge Plate 1911 Ladies' Challenge Plate 1912 Ladies' Challenge Plate 1921 Ladies' Challenge Plate 1948 Ladies' Challenge Plate 1956 Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup 1960 Ladies' Challenge Plate 1967 Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup 1969 Visitors' Challenge Cup 1978 Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup 1982 Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup 1983 Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup 1990 Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup 1991 Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup 1995 Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup 2005 Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup 2009 Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup 2010 Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup 2014 Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup 2016 Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup 2019 Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup2021Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup
Schools' Head of the River Race +YearWinning crew1955 J18 eights1959 J18 eights1972 J18 eights1973 J18 eights1974 J18 eights1978 J18 eights1979 J18 eights1990 J18 eights1991 J18 eights1992 J18 eights1995 J18 eights2005 J18 eights2009 J18 eights2010 J18 eights
References