Row Up the River

Row Up the River took place on Saturday 8th July, with forty Hinksey athletes rowing 40km from Wallingford to Godstow in a day to raise money for their club.

We started off at the Oxford University Boat Club in Wallingford, with members of the J14, J15, J16, J17 and J18 squads pushing off at 8am in seven mixed crews. Five locks and 27km later we stopped for a lunch break at Radley College, picking up the J13 athletes there for the remaining 13km back to Godstow. The crews entered each lock in three groups, carefully manoeuvring their boats into the narrow chambers. The athletes all did a great job of negotiating larger pleasure boats out enjoying the bright Saturday sunshine and holding the boats steady as the water level in each lock rose.

The crews at the front of the group began to reach Godstow at five, and soon after all athletes had reached the boathouse after almost ten hours of rowing. They were welcomed back onto dry land by their families for a picnic before heading home for a well-earned rest. 

With each individual raising sponsorship money independently for the challenge they undertook, the athletes managed to raise a fantastic £3267 for Hinksey. The funds raised by all of the athletes who took part in the challenge will go towards the purchase of a new coaching launch at Godstow - a wonderful effort by all!