About

Rob Roy Boat Club (also known as RRBC or Robs), was founded in 1880, making it one of the older clubs still in existence in Cambridge. Although 23 Cambridge town clubs were founded between 1843 and 1880, only one other still remains. RRBC has traditionally focused on training/racing in small boats, and are proud to cater for everybody from complete beginners to international rowers/scullers at junior, senior, masters and elite levels.

RRBC is the most successful of the non-university rowing clubs in Cambridge and first went Head of the River in the Cambridge Town Bumps in 1886. This was repeated in 1897, when Robs began the first of it’s stretches at the top by retaining the position for all but one of the next 14 years (1897 – 1902 and 1904 – 1911). After World War I it was not until 1920 that Town Rowing resumed, with the club being reformed in 1919, but Robs took until 1925 to return to the Headship. The interwar years were mixed, but the outbreak of World War II brought Town rowing to a standstill again until 1945. In the late ’60s and early ’70s RRBC completely dominated local events.

Every year since 1979 one or more members or alumni from RRBC have competed at Junior, Lightweight, Under 23 and World Championship levels, and in 2012 several competed at the Olympics.

RRBC aims to become the leading Rowing Club in the East of England, seeking to further develop it’s national reputation as a regional centre for high performance rowing. The Club aims to provide a pathway for scullers/rowers ranging from complete novice to international, and in doing so will encourage members to develop as athletes embodying professionalism in all they do while also performing to the highest level of their ability.

RRBC is closely linked with CUBC and certain schools in the area with whom we have worked closely for some years. RRBC is also a full and active member of the Cambridgeshire Rowing Association, organising 2 major races on the Cam for the benefit of all Clubs and the c1000 competitors who take part, along with courses to train members of other clubs wishing to learn to scull.

If you would like to know more or get involved, please contact the appropriate member of the RRBC Management Committee.

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