Group of people in blue and pink athletic shirts posing outdoors during daytime with a white tent in the background.

Everything you need to know about Trent Rowing Club


Established in 1863 our rowing club on the River Trent is focused on helping people enjoy this fantastic sport on the beautiful river Trent.

Our Trent Mission

At Trent Rowing Club, our mission is to foster excellence in rowing by providing a structured, inclusive, and high-performance environment for athletes of all levels.

We are dedicated to developing competitive rowers through rigorous training, technical skill-building, and a strong team ethos. Our commitment goes beyond the water, we aim to instil discipline, resilience, and sportsmanship in every member, preparing them not only for success in competition, but also in life.

Trent Rowing Club is one of Burton’s oldest sporting institutions, established in 1863, with it’s first notable win at Derby Regatta in 1859.

From its early days, the Club embraced an inclusive ethos, welcoming members from all sectors of society. This commitment led to conflict in 1889 when the Amateur Rowing Association (ARA) introduced the 'Mechanics Rule', banning manual workers from competing in its events. Refusing to exclude its working-class members, Trent was barred from ARA competitions.

In response, prominent local figures Percy Evershed and Charles P. Spooner helped found the National Amateur Rowing Association to support like-minded clubs. While other local clubs upheld the ARA’s exclusionary rules, the controversial Mechanics Rule persisted until it was finally abolished at the start of the Second World War, reaffirming the Club’s long-standing commitment to equality.

At Trent Rowing Club, Burton on Trent, our mission is to foster excellence in rowing by providing a structured, inclusive, and high-performance environment for athletes of all levels.

— Richard Gipson, Trent Rowing Club President

Meet the Trent Rowing Club Team

  • Richard Gipson

    Chairman

  • James Atkin

    Chair and Secretary

  • x

    Membership Secretary

  • x

    Treasurer

  • Karl Benton

    Head of Rowing

  • Kellie Hathaway

    Junior Coach

  • James Russell

    Senior Coach

  • Joe Bruton

    Masters Captain

  • Ania K

    Junior Captain

  • Milena Kunicka

    Welfare Officer

  • x

    Safety Officer

Join the Trent Rowing Family

Get in touch with us today for more information