History
The club was originally based on a barge near Bristol Bridge, in the city centre. In 1884 the clubhouse was replaced with "The Barge", which was a French frigate captured in the Napoleonic wars. The Barge housed all the club’s boats and documents and a cockroach infested changing room for the rowers. In around 1892, the Barge sprang a leak and sank just as she was due to be repaired, and much was lost. However she was raised, drained and used as clubhouse for another 8 years. In 1900, the club moved to St.Anne’s where the present clubhouse was built.
In the Second World War, the club was hit in a bombing raid on the pumphouse and the railway line behind it. With few active members left, the building fell into disrepair and boats were abandoned until after the war.
Bristol Ariel Rowing Club has fostered many rowers at all levels over the years. The one who went the furthest in his rowing career was Nicholas Birkmyre, who won Double Sculls Challenge Cup four times at Henley and came fourth rowing at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.
Read more about this topic: Bristol Ariel Rowing Club
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