On the evening of Saturday 17 March 2018, Shiplake College will open its doors to Olympic Gold Medallists Will Satch MBE and Ben Hunt-Davis MBE, and all Old Vikings, current and former parents, staff and friends of the College are invited to join them at the ‘It’s More Than A Boathouse’ Dinner! Senior rowers (in Years 11-13) are also welcome if accompanied by an adult.
The purpose of the event is to raise funds for a proposed state-of-the-art Boathouse and Multi-Activity Centre. For many years the Boat Club has worked out of some now very dated buildings in the old quarry, which have developed piecemeal over many years. Not only is there poor and inadequate space for boat storage, the areas for off-water training are not fit for purpose and there are no toilet and changing facilities. The riverside site is also used for activities relating to the Combined Cadet Force, Duke of Edinburgh scheme and Outdoor Education programme, including an old open air rifle/archery range together with stores for canoes, mountain bikes and camping equipment.
The proposed new development looks to rationalise all the buildings and storage sheds into one new purpose built building, including an indoor rifle range and climbing wall – so whilst the rowers will benefit significantly, it is so much more than a boathouse (!), and all pupils would benefit from the new facilities in one form or another.
Shiplake College is considered to be among the top three schools in the UK for Rowing and has produced world-class rowers such as Will Satch MBE, who achieved Bronze at the London 2012 Olympics and Gold at Rio in 2016, and Ben Hunt-Davis who won Gold at the Sydney Olympics back in 2000. Last year, Shiplake’s 1st VIII won the School’s Head, gained bronze at the National Schools’ Regatta and reached the Semi-Finals of Henley Royal Regatta for the first time in 25 years. These successes reflect the Boat Club's premier training and coaching programme but… imagine how good we could be if we had the rowing facilities to match! Join us to celebrate the club’s achievements so far and help raise funds to go towards a modern, purpose-built development.
The event begins at 7.00pm and will end at midnight. Tickets cost £65 per person (£50 for Old Vikings who have left since 2012 and senior rowers in Years 11-13). For more information and to purchase your tickets please click here.
