History of the club
1842
Edmund Sharp, failing to establish a cricket club, provided two 4 oared cutters, Lotus and Ariadne and formed a rowing club instead
1843
Rooms were secured at the Royal Blue Anchor on the Quayside and a warehouse for the boats and the club held the first Lancaster Regatta
1844
The second regatta was again held at the quayside before an ‘immense’ crowd and included the first ever visiting crew from Mersey Rowing Club.
1845
Land was secured above the weir at Skerton and a wooden boat store constructed which was soon improved with a tiled roof
1865
Investigations into the General Election of 1865 found examples of bribery and corruption implicating some members, splitting in the club
First Pewter Pot race from the journal of Arthur Hansbrow, founding secretary 1844
Hansbrow sailing to Fleetwood to row in Fleetwood Regatta
1866
The ‘Gentlemen’ members of the club crossed the river and built new premises whilst the others stayed in Skerton as the John O’Gaunt Rowing Club
1870
The Duffer crew, club and provincial champions lose the final of the Steward’s Challenge Cup at Henley using the new technique of sliding on larger seats
1883
The boathouse was demolished and a new stone replacement built costing £178.I5sh.4d (£27,000 today) James Williamson becomes President
1914
80 members enlisted to fight in WW1 of whom 10 lost their lives
1921
Massive turnout of all members at the unveiling of the Club’s ‘beautiful and moving memorial to those that died that we might live’
Members outside the old Boathouse, 1921
Boathouse from the mill c.1920
1934
Record membership of 206. The original Lancaster RC
had to close having too few members. John O’Gaunt was re-named the Lancaster, JohnO’Gaunt RC in its memory
1936
The ‘finest day’s entries at Lancaster Regatta since the
inauguration of the event in 1843’. The commission and purchase of the finest ‘fine’ 4+ named Lady Ashton for Lawson Jackson’s crew
1948
“The club has experienced one of the best years in its history greatly enhancing its reputation”
1955
Doug Melvin wins the Wingfield Sculls (The English Amateur Championship) the first provincial sculler ever to do so and represented the country at the European Championships
1960
The first mention of the ‘plague of vandalism’ which continued through the 60’s and 70’s. And continues to this day…
Best placed jog crew at Tideway Head 1973
Pauline Janson, 1979
1970
The club’s senior 4+ won the Pop Grant Shield as the most successful crew in the North West Region
1975
A club 4+ won the Boston Marathon (the longest rowing race in the world) in a record time of 3hours 42 minutes
1980
Pauline Janson represented GB in the Moscow Olympic Regatta
1983
Following many years of fund raising a new Boathouse was officially opened costing £20,000 (£106,000 today)
2003
Adam Murfitt and Paul Nelson completed the Atlantic
Challenge Rowing Race coming 8th out of 12 finishers
The damage caused by Storm Desmond, 2015
The Durant brothers
2016
JoG member, Scott Durant, wins Gold Medal in the 8+ event at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics
2017
The Stewards of Henley Royal Regatta awarded the club the signal honour of a row over the course in celebration of its 175th anniversary
2025
The club is currently financially secure, competitively successful and enjoying exactly 180 years on its site in Skerton and close to signing a new lease for another 150