News

Furnivall Women's Squad

Furnivall is a small, friendly club based in Hammersmith. It has a number of groups for different rowing and sculling needs - we cater for all levels of experience, ability and commitment. Alongside the Senior Women’s squad we have a group of experienced social rowers and a dedicated social sculling group for those with less time for training or who are less interested in the competitive side. The club also runs occasional ‘learn to row’ courses for complete novices, so please check the website periodically for details of these.

The senior women's squad on average consists of 12-16 rowers. Although small, it is a competitive squad with a history of success at Women's Henley, Nationals, the MET, Wallingford and other smaller regattas. The squad in 2008/2009 made the semi-final in the senior 4+ and quarter-final in the intermediate 8+ at Women's Henley. In 2007/2008 they were finalists in the Remenham Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, won Elite 4+ at HWR, gold in W4+ and bronze in W8+ at the National Championships.

We train on the water at weekends and occasionally on weekday evenings leading up to regattas. There are also land-based sessions set by the coach, which can be done either at the Furnivall gym or at your own gym. While we train hard, we also realise that people have jobs (and lives outside rowing!) so we try to make the training as flexible as possible.

The squad is very friendly, with a number of graduates joining in previous years. The recently refurbished club room is an ideal place to relax and chat between sessions, as well as a venue for club socials and private events in the evenings.

If you are interested in joining the senior women's squad or any of the other groups, please contact Womenssquad-Captain@furnivall-members.co.uk.

Dewar Shield, Sunday 15th February 2009

This race between Sons of the Thames, Auriol Kensington & FSC featured three 5 FSC crews, 2 AK crews & 6 Sons crews battling it out on the Tideway. Sons of the Thames won both the Men's Race & the Overall Competition, while FSC won the Women's Race. Many members of the clubs came to cheer them on and for a drink afterwards in the newly renovated FSC clubroom. Many thanks to Steve Albrecht for organising the event and all those who volunteered to run it, and congratulations to Sons!

Events Spring 2009

The following events will be taking place at Furnivall over the next couple of months.

Club members are very much needed to volunteer to help run them, and of course to attend the AGM :

Saturday 7th March - Women's Head of the River (start 12.30)

PROVISIONAL: Saturday 14th March Club Biannual General Meeting (time tbc)

Saturday 21st March - Men's Head of the River (start 11.15)

Sunday 29th March - Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race (start 3.40)

Cheese and Wine @ FSC

The Club's Cheese and Wine party was on Sunday 14th December at 1pm. There were a number of fun races before then. Many members past and present joined us for this lovely end to a very exciting year, hosted in our new clubroom by our new captain, Steve Albrecht. Members were present who had joined the club in the 1950s, and it was a great pleasure for them to see the club as it is now, rejuvenated by the redevelopment, and for current members to hear from them about the club's past. Many thanks to Michelle Quinn for organising the event.

Club Book

The history of Furnivall has been authoritatively written by Elizabeth Carter. An excellent and fascinating book, it is available on Amazon.

Results Report

Congratulations to the members who competed for the club this year- this is the final tally of results:

Women's Head of the River 2008 1st Eight Results: Women finished 10th

ARA Regatta Wins (Wallingford, Met)

Henley Womens Regatta winners of Elite Coxed fours and Finalists in Intermediate eights.

Henley Royal Regatta: Finalists (Remenham Challenge Cup).

National Championships: GOLD Medalists (W4+). Bronze medalists (W8+)

Opening of the John Robbins Room on July 13th

A wonderful and very moving day for members past and present, who gathered to inaugurate a new chapter in Furnivall's history and to thank the man who has made it possible through his generosity, John Robbins. After refreshments were served, 50 guests heard speeches by the President and Captain, before John Robbins was asked to cut the ribbon of the new room.

Well Done!

The 1st Eight women, in a composite crew, did fantastically well at Henley Royal, getting through to the final race on the Sunday, beyond all their expectations but totally deserved. They lost out to an excellent Leander club on Sunday, having beaten Osiris and Thames on Saturday and Friday respectively. Congratulations to the team and to coach Andy. A fantastic effort, and your editor thoroughly enjoyed watching them on their way to victory on the Friday, eagerly watched by Steve from the following launch.

Club Featured in h&f news

Dr Furnivall and his legacy were the centre of attention in a piece due to be published in the April 15th in the Hammersmith & Fulham News. Eyes peeled, all.

New informal logo for the club

A new, classic image (adopted from a 1920s Triumph advert) has been adopted as the new informal logo for the club (T-shirts coming in the next few weeks). The design was by Paul Slifer of Red Hot+Blue Tattoo.