Why not give rowing a go? It can change your shape, make you a new set of friends and give you a sport that is carried out in the most beautiful and natural surroundings.

Walton Rowing Club welcomes all who want to start rowing for the first time.  The Join The Club section has information on joining, fees and so on.

We run a variety of introductory rowing courses from Easter through the summer when the weather is warmer and there is more daylight. The best time to come down is around 10am on Sunday morning, there are usually plenty of people around.  Just ask to speak to someone on the committee and we can talk about which one might be best for you.   

Adult courses normally run for six consecutive weekly sessions on Sunday afternoons. Each session lasts an hour and a half.

For more information or to be put on our waiting list please email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 Here are a few more details, to put your mind at ease and set a few expectations.

1. Do I have to be able to swim?  Yes, definitely.  Rowers don't intend to swim, but most of them have at some time or another.  You should be able to swim 50m in your clothes as a  minimum.
2. Can a 4 year old do it?  No.  You have to be big enough to hold an oar, and pull it reasonably hard.  Twleve year olds are fine, and often younger if they are strong and, of course, good swimmers.  Also, you can get a bit cold and  wet in winter time, and while we don't expect a 12-year old to make too much of a fuss, someone younger might not like it.
3.  Does rowing cost a lot of money?  No it does not.  We do charge for our various introductory rowing courses, but the price compares pretty favourably with the council swimming lessons.  However the boats themselves are very expensive - a good eight will cost over £10,000, and is to a certain extent quite fragile.  So we will make sure you are a good rower before we let you out in our best boats.
4. Can old people do it?  Yes definitely.  On Saturday and Sunday mornings you can see a wide range of older rowers!
5. Am I likely to get injured?  No.  Rowing is a pretty safe sport.  The main dangers for beginners are falling in, and the Thames is not too dirty these days, trust me, and 'catching a crab' which can get you a thump from an oar if you are unlucky, and there are  also some occasional overuse-type injuries that a beginner does not need to worry about.
6. Do I have to train hard?  Like most sports, you get out what you put in.  If you want to row in one of our competitive crews, then you will have to train as hard as the rest of the crew.  If you and a friend want to go out twice a month as a change from tennis, or as a summer activity to stay fit when football and rugby have stopped, then that is fine too.

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