History of rowing sports

What began as a method of transport and warfare eventually became a sport with a wide following, and a part of the cultural identity of the English speaking world.

An Egyptian funerary inscription of 1430 BC records that the warrior Amenhotep (Amenophis) II was also renowned for his feats of oarsmanship.

In the Aeneid, Virgil mentions rowing forming part of the funeral games arranged by Aeneas in honour of his father.

[3] The first known 'modern' rowing races, began from competition among the professional watermen that provided ferry and taxi service on the River Thames in London.

Prizes for wager races were often offered by the London Guilds and Livery Companies or wealthy owners of riverside houses.

[4] Prize matches amongst professionals similarly became popular on other rivers throughout Great Britain in the 19th century, notably attracting vast crowds on the Tyne.

The oldest surviving such race, Doggett's Coat and Badge was first contested in 1715 and is still held annually from London Bridge to Chelsea.

The interest in the first Boat Race and subsequent matches led the town of Henley to begin hosting an annual regatta in 1839.

Ports such as Boston, New York, and Philadelphia required the building of many small rowing boats, and competition was inevitable.

In 1824, ferrymen from the Whitehall Landing at Manhattan's Battery raced a crew from the British frigate HMS Hussar for $1,000.

Strong rowing nations include Great Britain, the United States, Italy, Netherlands, France, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, and Romania.

On 27 April 1997, one of the last bastions of rowing was breached when, at an Extraordinary General Meeting, Leander Club voted to admit women as members.

[14][15] At international level, women's rowing was dominated by Eastern European countries, such as Romania, Russia, and Bulgaria, until the collapse of the communism.