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As I put together the new Learn 2 Row brochure for our April recruits, I can’t help but look back on my own experience last year.
Yes, I knew I signed up for rowing—but I didn’t expect all of this.
I thought I was in for a bit of fitness, fresh air, and maybe the odd new friend. What I hadn’t anticipated was just how much rowing would sneak into my life—take me hostage and refuse to leave.
As cheesy as it sounds, rowing is so much more than just a sport. It’s where I’ve made genuine friends, rediscovered my competitive streak, fully immersed myself in something new, and had an absolute blast along the way.
Now, I get it. I understand why everyone in our club pushes through the blisters, the early mornings, and the full-body lactic acid meltdowns. Because somehow, it’s all worth it.
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Stay up-to-date with all the latest developments at Ross Rowing Club
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On February 4th, Ross Rowing Club lost a dear friend and valued member, Philip ‘Plum’ Palmer, who passed away after a brave battle with leukaemia.
To honour his life, members and friends – both old and new – gathered at the Clubhouse last Friday to celebrate his memory. The turnout was a true testament to the affection and respect Plum had earned over the years, with over 130 people coming together to raise a glass in his honour.
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Above: Ross Rowing Club remembers Philip ‘Plum’ Palmer.
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In addition to celebrating his life, the evening also raised nearly £300 for Leukaemia Care, a charity which supported and helped Plum and his family during his illness.
As per his wishes, plans are underway for a rowing sports day on the summer solstice, Saturday 21st June 2025. This event will aim to raise as much money as possible for a local cancer charity, with more details to be shared in the coming weeks.
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Ross Rowing Club extends its warmest congratulations to club member Bianca Mares (née Brisc) and her husband, Adrian, on their marriage on Saturday, 9th February 2025. The couple celebrated their wedding in Carei, their hometown in the northwest of Romania, where they first met in September 2019.
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Above: Bianca Mares (née Brisc) and her husband Adrian on their wedding day.
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Adrian’s career moved them to the UK, and eventually Ross-on-Wye, where he now works as the Farm Manager at nearby Drummonds Farm, whilst Bianca works in telecommunications. Bianca joined the club through the Learn 2 Row programme last year and has quickly become a key member of the development squad.
Her dedication and commitment have led to several successful regattas, with notable victories in Hereford, Penarth, and Gloucester. In recognition of her progress, Bianca was awarded the ‘Most Improved Female Rower’ at last year’s Club Awards Evening.
We wish Mr and Mrs Mare every happiness and success in their new marriage.
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Ross Rowing Club is excited to kick off its Learn 2 Row course this April, offering you the chance to discover the rewarding sport of rowing. Starting Saturday, 26th April, and running until 1st June, the course will take place over weekends, giving you the opportunity to learn sculling and sweep rowing while enjoying the picturesque backdrop of our beautiful river. With expert instructors guiding you through every step, you’ll quickly build confidence on the water while mastering essential skills like boat handling and water safety.
At just £99, the Learn 2 Row course is designed for complete beginners, so no prior experience is needed. Whether you’re looking for a new challenge or simply want to enjoy the outdoors, rowing offers a range of physical and mental benefits that make it an ideal sport for people of all ages.
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Above: Do you want to Learn 2 Row? Email our Coordinator Lucy Preece today.
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Rowing is a low-impact activity that engages around 85% of the muscles in your body, providing an excellent full-body workout. It’s particularly beneficial for cardiovascular fitness and strength, while being gentle on the joints due to its non-weight bearing nature. This makes it a great option for anyone recovering from injury or dealing with joint pain, as well as those seeking an accessible form of exercise.
What’s more, rowing isn’t just for the young or athletic. In fact, more than half of the people who take up rowing for the first time are over the age of 35. It’s a sport that appeals to a wide range of people, offering both a physical challenge and a mental focus that can be enjoyed at any stage of life.
If you’ve been looking for a way to get active, challenge yourself, and enjoy some time on the water, this is your chance to get started. With a friendly, supportive environment and expert instruction, Ross Rowing Club’s Learn 2 Row course offers everything you need to begin your rowing journey. But spaces are limited, so don’t miss out—secure your place today and join us on the river this spring!
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Last December, Sally Pettipher was honoured with the Volunteer of the Year award for the West Midlands at the British Rowing Awards, recognising her significant contributions to the MARS (Mixed Ability Rowing) programme. Sally, along with others, has been instrumental in making rowing more accessible to everyone, and this award is a testament to her ongoing dedication and passion for inclusive sport.
The British Rowing Awards ceremony, held in February at the River and Rowing Museum in Henley-on-Thames, celebrated the achievements of regional and national winners alike. While Sally was unable to attend, the award was accepted on her behalf by Jackie Baynham, the co-lead and coach on the MARS programme at Ross, alongside the Club’s welfare officer, Sue Thompson.
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Above: Jackie Baynham (left) and Sue Thompson (right) at the British Rowing Awards.
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The award presentation was made by Lauren Henry MBE, a member of the GB Women’s Quadruple Sculls team who secured the first-ever Olympic gold medal in the event at Paris 2024. They triumphed over the Netherlands with a dramatic final stroke. Additional Olympic champions who presented awards included Morgan Bolding and James Rudkin from the Men’s Eight, and Emily Craig MBE from the Women’s Lightweight Double.
The afternoon also featured a drinks reception and a three-course meal, providing a perfect opportunity for attendees to reflect on the year’s successes. Many in the room commented on how Ross Rowing Club’s MARS programme continues to impress, with its growing impact and ongoing successes.
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Details on upcoming social events at Ross Rowing Club
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Have you been to one of our wildly popular Quiz Nights? If not, where have you been? Last month, we packed the Clubhouse with 60 eager quizzers, all enjoying a fantastic evening of fun, friendly competition, and, of course, classic pie and chips!
This month, we’re doing it all again! Our next Monthly Quiz Night takes place on Friday, 7th March 2025, at the Clubhouse, and we’re delighted to have Club President Jeremy Picton-Tubervill returning as quizmaster.
Gather your team of up to six people and put your knowledge to the test! Entry is just £2 per person (or £1 for Junior members). And no quiz night is complete without great food—our Clubhouse kitchen will be serving up delicious Fish and Chips for £6 per person, available to order on the night.
Doors open at 6 PM, with the quiz kicking off at 7 PM. Whether you’re a seasoned quizzer or just in it for the laughs, we’d love to see you there for an evening of trivia, great food, and good company!
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Get ready for an evening of incredible tricks, mesmerising illusions, and mind-bending psychological stunts as renowned mentalist Mark Huntley takes the stage.
Mark has amazed audiences across the country and even reached the finals of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent with his exceptional mind-reading and illusion skills. Now, he’s bringing his remarkable act to Ross Rowing Club for one unforgettable night.
The show will take place on Friday, 21st March 2025. Doors will open at 6 PM, with the performance starting at 7 PM. Tickets are £10 for adults and £5 for juniors, offering great value for a night of world-class entertainment.
To make the evening even better, the Clubhouse Kitchen will be open, serving freshly prepared food throughout the night. Don’t miss out—get your tickets now and prepare for an evening full of surprises.
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Please note: Tickets are priced at £10 (Adults) or £5 (Juniors), and is exclusively open to RRC members, associates and their invited guests. All Junior members must be accompanied by a paying parent or guardian. This event is a fundraiser for Ross Rowing Club. All funds raised from this event will support the Club’s activities towards its charitable objectives.
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Shining a spotlight on what makes our club so special – its people
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I joined RRC in 2000 through the annual Pub and Club regatta. Plum was already a member at that time, and he went on to cox/coach at subsequent Pub and Clubs. Over the years, he rowed in several crews. The earliest memory I have of him rowing was the London Head in 2003, when my husband Ian was also in the crew. Plum had grown up playing football (a Manchester City fan, as we discovered after they started winning!) and also enjoyed running, so competing was in his blood. Rowing became just another avenue for him to showcase his competitive spirit.
As many know, Plum was a carpenter by trade. He’s probably worked on many members’ homes, in addition to occasionally working at the Club itself. When I say “work,” it did often involve a lot of tea drinking, and if there were any sweet treats to be had, his “work” would take just a little longer! On the few occasions he did work for me, I was never quite sure if I was paying for tea breaks as well – I suspect I was. He was very social and loved a good chat, always eager to learn about others’ lives and often passing on that information.
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Above: Philip ‘Plum’ Palmer and fellow Ross Rowing Club members celebrating their win.
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During his time in hospital over the past year, Plum engaged with everyone who came into his room, from nurses and cleaners to catering staff. He would quickly know their life stories! He had a particular interest in learning where people were from, and this summed up his genuine curiosity about others and their journeys. Plum himself had worked in carpentry in Germany back in the 1970s – just like in Auf Wiedersehen Pet, if you remember that show! That’s living, right?
During Covid, Plum, Richard Jennison, and I lived close to one another. Unable to row at the time, we instead spent time together on long local walks and bike rides. Plum would often plan these trips and loved to revisit old haunts from his past. He would regale us with stories from his youth in Glewstone. We visited several graveyards looking for people of note, including those who fought in the world wars. On these excursions, we’d be cycling along when Plum would suddenly say, “See that house over there? I’ve worked on that!” He would proceed to tell us who he worked for and any other details we didn’t necessarily need to hear. This would happen again and again, just 100 yards down the road at another place he’d worked. After a while, it became a bit monotonous. Richard and I would exchange glances, roll our eyes, and joke about how we were amazed the building was still standing! But it never deterred Plum.
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Above: Plum on an excursion during the Covid Pandemic Lockdown.
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As everyone knows, Plum loved a bit of banter. He made many friends at the rowing club, and when not rowing, chatting, or drinking tea, he could often be seen in a coaching boat. As a safety boat driver, he would often share his two pennies’ worth while accompanying a coach on a rowing session. Plum and Richard made an excellent double act in that regard! Plum enjoyed many of the socials, the odd “snifter” when he could get out, and the occasional dance or two. One of his favourite songs was I Get Knocked Down (But I Get Up Again) by Chumbawamba, and he would enthusiastically do the dance moves – getting down and back up!
He was a regular at circuit training over the years, including the infamous boot camp-style circuits run by Richard Brookes for many years. In 2008, we were “persuaded” to take part in the Royal Marines Commando Challenge in Devon. Mud can get anywhere!
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Above: Plum enjoying the River Wye with our Director of Rowing, Dave Sykes.
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Plum will definitely be missed by all, in one way or another. I think the rowing club was incredibly important to him. He had so many visitors while in hospital, which I know he truly appreciated.
Throughout his illness, he received countless pints of blood and platelets. As a blood donor myself, it really highlights how important each donation is. Plum had been a blood donor too, but in the end, he received more blood than he ever donated in his lifetime. It’s a good time to think about giving blood if you don’t already.
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If you’ve been around Ross Rowing Club for any length of time, chances are you’ve seen Charlie Pope in action. A familiar face, Charlie has practically grown up at the club alongside his sister, Annabel. As the son of esteemed club members Torsten Pope and Debbie Smith, rowing is in his blood. Since first picking up an oar in 2017, Charlie has not only competed but also earned his coaching qualifications, mentoring the next generation of junior rowers.
But last September, a new chapter began. Charlie packed his bags and set off for university life at the University of Bath, where he’s studying Sports and Exercise Science. His transition, however, wasn’t all smooth sailing.
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Above: Will, Tom, Fliss, Charlie, Ben, Greg, Anabel and Georgie at Ross Rowing Club last Christmas.
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“Everyone has heard about freshers’ flu and how impossible it is to escape, but I had no idea what was coming my way,” Charlie admits. “It took me about eight weeks to shake it off, which unfortunately meant very little rowing! The upside was that by the time Christmas came around, I was finally feeling better and could fully immerse myself back into rowing at Ross.”
And what better way to jump back in than a bit of friendly competition at the Spud Head? Returning home made Charlie appreciate just how much Ross Rowing Club means to him—not just the rowing, but the social and community aspects as well. Whether it was coaching, competing, or helping out in the kitchen with his dad during the club’s social events, he felt the pull of home stronger than ever.
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Above: Like father, like son. Charlie Pope helped to build the scaffold boat rack at Bath.
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Back in Bath, Charlie tried to bring that same sense of belonging to the university boat club. One of his early contributions? Helping build a scaffold boat rack to house two new King Racing Shell eights. “I must say, though, the ones at Ross are much prettier,” he adds with a grin.
University rowing has presented its own challenges. The facilities at Bath, which the university club shares with Minerva Bath and the GB Start Programme, are more utilitarian than those at Ross—essentially a boat shed, an ergo area, changing rooms, and boating steps. “I suppose GB Start wouldn’t have much use for a bar,” Charlie quips.
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Above: The boathouse shared by Bath University, Minerva Bath and the GB Start Programme.
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Once he’d finally shaken his illness, Charlie committed himself fully to training. But rowing in winter has its own cruel realities. “The Avon flooded,” he says simply. “More ergos!” Two long erg sessions a day, plus strength and conditioning, became his new normal. But perseverance paid off when the water finally receded, allowing him to get back in a boat and prepare for Wycliffe Big Boats Head.
The competition saw both Bath’s men’s and women’s first eights win their categories, with Charlie’s crew, the second eight, placing third in theirs—a solid result considering they had only a warm-up paddle together before racing due to the flooded Avon.
One of Charlie’s standout experiences so far came when his coach gave him the chance to row in a coxed four with three members of Armed Forces Rowing, one of whom was a runner-up in the Britannia Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. Initially daunted, Charlie asked his coach for advice. The response? “Row until you bleed from the eyes.”
Determined, Charlie threw himself into the session—and was pleasantly surprised. “It felt effortless,” he recalls. “The harmony of the crew made it easy to connect, suspend, and actually be a useful part of the boat. The surge produced by the drive felt like takeoff, and the recovery like flying.”
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Above: Charlie Pope (second left) and the Bath University 2nd Men’s VIII at BUCS Head in Newcastle.
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Charlie most recently competed at BUCS head in Newcastle, Charlie was selected to row for the 2nd VIII in the intermediate open 8+. After seeing a familiar face at in the marshalling area, Jessie Punn coxing the Manchester eight, his crew placed 19th of 33 matching Bath’s first eight result from the previous year.
Prior to this Charlie had been rushed in to the Championship lightweight 4- as a last minute replacement for the bowman who unfortunately didn’t make the 75kg weight limit. The crew placed 4th of 6 beating crews such as Queen’s university Belfast and Surry university, taking home four BUCS points for Bath University.
Now, as summer approaches, Charlie is already planning his return to Ross. Competitions, crew selections, and even group camping trips are all on his radar. After a whirlwind year of new experiences, one thing is clear: no matter where he rows, Ross Rowing Club will always feel like home.
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Ross Rowing Club – Founded 1875
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