Original by Chris Kenyon - Additions 2004 onwards by Ian Smith.
I have on a number of occasions been asked - presumably on the basis that I am one of the "oldest inhabitants" - the origins of our boats and their names. These notes provide some of the answers.
This yellow plastic two piece 80kg eight built by Empacher was one of the boats brought over for hire by USA crews at Henley Royal Regatta in 1985. Such boats are usually sold on after the regatta - if not they are taken back to Germany. A number were returned but the story goes that this one was not loaded on to the intended trailer with the others as it had somehow found it's way unknown into Henley RC boathouse.. By the time Tees RC found out about it the boat had been moved to Putney and we were told that if we wanted it we would have to have the cash available within 7 days or it would be returned to the makers. John Inman dashed down there, inspected it and reported that it was a good buy. The price was £6500 and we scraped it together in the nick of time.
The boat is named after the late Harold Macmillan, former Prime Minister, internationally respected statesman but above all fondly remembered former Member of Parliament for Stockton-on-Tees (1931 - 1945). "Supermac" died shortly before this purchase. His grandson Alexander, now our Patron, inherited the title. As part of a round of official visits to the town in 1987 he attended Stockton Regatta and performed the naming ceremony.
In Autumn 2001 we carried out a comprehensive overhaul of the boat. Damaged and worn out fittings were replaced and thanks to the generosity of one of our members - Paul Stiller of Stiller Transport - the hull was refurbished and resprayed at a fraction of the commercial cost. It looks absolutely superb. This has been recognised by the application of a "sponsor's logo" on the saxboards.
An 80kg Aylings Olympian - this was one of three boats bought from Walbrook RC in 2002. Believed to be around 10 years old. Originally called Mississippi Canyon we renamed it in honour of Kate O' Sullivan who was not only the first woman to Captain Tees RC but as also the first to be President. Kate's involvment with the club nowadays includes coaching and developing/running Tees Regatta.
We took delivery of the boat at Civil Service Boathouse on the afternoon of The Head of the River Race 2002. The girls had a brief familiarization outing and the following day won the Women's Veteran C Pennant at Vesta Veterans Head.
A mid-1990's 90-95kg Aylings Olympian, bought by Tees RC late in 2004 to accommodate the men's squad. The boat was purchased indirectly from Bournemouth University. The boat has distinctive Oxford Blue saxboards and canvasses and featured in the film "True Blue" about the 1987 Oxford University Boat Club Mutiny.
True Blue was extensively refurbished by Janousek in August 2005.
Purchased originally as a private boat by Chris Kenyon in 2000. This 85kg Eton Racing Boats composite sectional coxed four was used highly successfully by the TRC Veteran E crew.
The name was suggested by Sue Kenyon on the basis that the boat would be used by a section of the Club who refuse to grow up and are intent on growing old disgracefully ......
Chris, on declaring his impending departure from the club in 2004, set the
club a very generous challenge:
The club could purchase the boat on his departure for the price of £5000 with
a twist. For every £1 that was raised after Jan 2004 to the date of purchase
of the boat, Chris would reduce the price of the boat by £0.50p to a maximum
discount of £2500. The club did indeed raise £5000 through various sources
and purchased LOSW at the incredible price of £2500.
A quality boat at a bargain price - with the added bonus of setting alight the club's fundraising spirit.
Built by Donoratico of Italy this wooden one piece coxed four was bought new by Tees RC in 1981. Shortly after purchase she was quite badly damaged when she ran aground having been taken upstream during the later stages of an ebb tide. Repairs were carried out by Glyn Locke - if you look at the hull you will see a large area of timber which is of a different hue to the rest of the boat. The purchase cash was raised by disposing of an existing four (John N Roe) and selling "pieces" of the new boat to sponsors for £50 per foot. Now a lady "of a certain age" she has won a significant number of trophies including The Grand at Durham and continues to win in the hands of the Veteran C crew who regard her with great affection.
The boat is named after Ann Storry, late mother of David Storry (a past Captain and President of Tees RC). As this was the first Tees boat to carry a lady's name it was deemed appropriate to call her "Lady Ann".
Extensively refurbished by Browns of Durham in September 2001.
Following the reintroduction of Stockton Regatta (now known as Tees Regatta) in 1978 primarily on the initiative of Stockton Borough Council an excellent working relationship was quickly established between the Club and our Local Authority. When Tees RC needed a boat to help with the promotion of junior rowing the Council provided the funds for the purchase of this Raymond Sims built restricted coxed four in 1979. Restricted boats replaced the clinker type. The "restricted" referred to their dimensions which were specified between limited parameters thus ensuring that all such boats were in effect identical - the idea being to provide not only a robust stable boat for novices but also to make for fair racing in what were virtually matched boats. These days very few races are held in restricted boats but this type of craft still fulfils a valuable role in introducing beginners to the sport.
In recognition of their support the boat was named "The Borough of Stockton-on- Tees".
For the benefit of trivia collectors: "The Borough" was the first boat into the new Boathouse.
A wooden coxed four built by Browns of Durham for Hartlepool Rowing Club in approx. 19??. This design of boat was created by Browns as a sort of "half way house" between the old restricted design and the full blown shell four. Initially it was aimed at Durham Colleges who wanted to replace their restricted fours with a shell boat suitable for their lower category crews. They needed a robust easily sat craft for training and racing but a pure racing shell would not be appropriate. The result is this much more flat bottomed design which has proved very popular not only with the colleges but also with many clubs like ours. Sadly Hartlepool RC was short lived but Tees RC had the good fortune to be able to take over this boat (and others) as well as some former Hartlepool members.
In the circumstances "Hartlepool Renaissance" whilst not truly original is nevertheless a most fitting name.
Another Brown built coxed four - this of the more traditional narrow shell shape and constructed on the cold moulded principle (strips of wood glued diagonally rather than using sheets of plywood). Bought new by Tees RC in 1991.
Named after Chris Kenyon who joined Tees RC in 1959 and has held most Offices in the Club. He was ARA Divisional Representative for some 16 years and more recently completed a four year stint as Chairman of the Northern Rowing Council. He was awarded the ARA Medal of Honour for services to the sport in 1994. With a continuous rowing career since 1955 he is still at it as a single sculler and as a member of our Veteran E four.
A wooden coxed four built by Ray Sims of Nottingham and bought new by Tees RC in 1979. This craft has been one of the work horses of the club fleet for over 20 years and is still in remarkably good condition.
Tim is an Honorary Life Member of Tees RC and was one of the early post war members who did so much to re establish the Club during those difficult times. He worked for ICI on Teesside before moving in the 1970's to their HQ in London. Now retired he is a lifelong member of Thames RC and regular at Henley. Tim is still well remembered in this part of the world as one of the sports characters. Fittingly the naming ceremony was held at HRR after which he joined us for a row on the course in his namesake.
This Aylings boat can be used as either a coxed four or a coxed quadruple scull. It was purchased new by Tees RC to enable our Juniors to be given the opportunity to train and race in a boat of the highest quality (rather than having to compromise with an unsuitable hand me down).
The funds for its purchase were raised by adding a Sports Match grant to sponsorship from Donald Cooper Ltd (the pharmacy business of the late Donald Cooper - father of our members David and Johnothan). Donald was a great supporter not only of his sons' rowing ambitions but also of Tees Rowing Club. The boat was named in memory of him.
A 75/80kg Janousek coxed four bought from Phoenix RC in 2002. Believed to be some 10 - 12 years old.
We decided that that having moved the club location away from the site that it had occupied since at least 1864 that it would be appropriate to recognise our roots. Accordingly the boat has been named "The Old Boathouse" (former name was "Brian Bowden").
The Old Boathouse was extensively refurbished by Janousek in August 2005.
Another of the ex Walbrook boats this is an 85kg Aylings Olympian coxed four which is thought to be about 10 years old. (Original name "Walrus").
This boat is named in honour of John and Jane Inman who have been involved in Tees RC for many years. John was a member of the Durham Grand winning crew in 1983, has served the club in numerous offices including President and was a leading light in the development of the River Tees Watersports Centre. Jane has also rowed and coxed for the club and has been (and still is) involved in many valuable supporting roles - in particular with the Regatta.
The boat was refurbished by Lola-Aylings in August 2005.
A 75 kg Janousek double bought new in 2001 with sponsorship from Sondes Engineering Ltd and Sports Match for use by our Juniors. This and future Junior boats will be named on a "River Tees locations and landmarks" theme.
Cauldron Snout is a spectacular cataract/waterfall in Upper Teesdale where the river drops over the Great Whin Sill, an extensive volcanic outcrop.
A 65 kg Janousek double bought new in 2001 with sponsorship from Sondes Engineering Ltd and Sports Match. Another of our Junior boats named on the Tees theme.
Cross Fell is the highest point of the Pennines and the source of the River
Tees is just below this point.
An ex Walbrook RC boat (named Amethyst) bought in 2002 this is a beautiful all wood 80/85kg Raymond Sims double scull/coxless pair and is believed to be one of the last wooden boats constructed by this company before going over to plastic/composites.
For many years our wooden boat repair and maintenance was carried out by Arthur Bivens, (father/father in law of our members Julie and David Gray). Sadly ill health compelled Arthur to retire from his position of Honorary Boatwarden a little while ago although he continues to maintain an interest in our progress. What more appropriate boat could carry his name thus recognising the service that he gave to the club?
The need for a big - and inexpensive - double scull/coxless pair was fulfilled in 2002 when we bought this elderly but very useable 90kg Aylings from Marlow RC.
The boat is named after one of our Honorary Life Members - David Carter. As Club Captain David introduced up to date organised training practices into the Club in the late 1970s resulting in the most successful post war period in the our history - including winning the North East Rowing League. In 1978 in response to an approach by Stockton Borough Council he led the club team which in partnership with the Council reintroduced the regatta at Stockton. That partnership has flourished and it would be fair to say that the significant help that we received (and continue to receive) from Stockton Council in bringing the River Tees Watersports Centre to fruition stemmed from that relationship.
Now living on the other side of the Pennines David continues his involvment
in the sport with Grosvenor RC for whom he is a regular veteran sculls competitor.
Our Tub Pair (Sir Steve will be pleased to see that we have one AND use it) was bought new from H C Banham of Cambridge in 1969. Built of glass fibre, it is the oldest boat in the boathouse and one of the most valued. It was named after Eric Colwell who was Hon. Treasurer of Tees ARC for no less than 35 years - retiring from the post in 1962. Our longest serving officer thus has his name on our longest serving boat.
Refurbished in 2001. And for trivia collectors -The Tub was the last boat
to leave the old boathouse....
The boathouse also houses a high number of Private boats:
The second privately owned new sectional coxed four to join the fleet in 2000 this is an 80kg Janousek used by our Senior ll men's crew. The name derives from the historical association between Stockton-on-Tees and the railways and in particular from Stephenson's "Rocket" the steam engine. How many Tees members realise that in Bridge Road, just round the corner from the end of Boathouse Lane, stands the building at which the world's first ever railway passenger ticket was sold?
Also located in the boathouse are a good number of privately owned double sculls/coxless pairs (6) and single sculls (30+)
A wooden three piece Donoratico eight originally owned by Aberdeen University and then bought by Tees RC in 1980. Used by Tees when they competed at Henley RR that year. By 1999 this boat was well past it's sell by date and worthless as a racing craft. It was disposed of to former Scottish champion sculler George Parsonage of Glasgow in exchange for one of his sculptures. George does a natty line in coffee tables made from pieces of old racing boats. The name is a reference to both the way in which boats by this builder are known and to one of the rivers in Aberdeen.
A Roland Sims wooden two piece coxed four bought new by Tees RC in 1973. Converted in recent years for use by our Juniors as a coxed quad scull. By 2000 we needed the space. Advertised on "The Rowing Service" website it was snapped up by a club based at Tideway Scullers at Chiswick in return for a donation of £50 to the Rowing Foundation (the rowing charity).
Sold to Birmingham RC to raise some of the cash to buy the Lady Ann. I was chatting to some members of Birmingham RC at Trent Head and was delighted to learn that they still have this boat which like many of it's age is now rigged as a coxed quadruple scull and used by their juniors.
Sold some years ago to St. Andrews University BC. During a recent email chat
to one of their officials I learned that the Bull had ended up ramming the
front end of a truck. Just for once it came off worst in a collision... Part
of the bow is said to have been preserved as a trophy.
This was our yellow Glyn Locke club single scull usually (and incorrectly) referred to as the Flymo. When we won the North East League Championship in 1979 we approached Flymo North East with a sponsorship proposal for a new Four. They suggested instead that they would prefer to sponsor young scullers. Accordingly they agreed to supply the Region with three singles to be available on an annual loan basis to Juniors and also provided Tees RC with a similar boat on permanent allocation. They were all called Minimo after a new small model of Flymo mower that the company had launched.The Regional Junior scheme still operates although at least two of the boats have been replaced having quite literally been worn out. Last year a similar fate befell our own Minimo. The remains were sold for a nominal sum to George Parsonage who has turned it into a window box...see photo below !
Aggie is a wooden double scull built by Harris of Oxford and bought from a club at Kingston on Hull some years ago. She is an unusual boat in being sectional. I say "is" because although we still have this boat you will not find her in the boathouse....Of indeterminate age she looks pretty good cosmetically but structurally she has "gone".
So when RTWC Manager Sean Rose was looking for some rowing artefacts with which to decorate the Function Room our offer to donate Aggie was accepted - and there you will find her, hanging from the rafters...
Is this the end of Aggie? - watch this space!
So... We said watch this space... She's been restored to her former glory by Sue Wareing and Victoria Laing and is now back in use as a private boat.