[1] The Royal Shrewsbury School Boat Club (RSSBC) is one of the oldest school rowing clubs, having begun as an unofficial sport frowned upon by the authorities, in the late 18th or early 19th century and the first official event being known to have happened in 1839, complete with military bands.

[3] The club has won the prestigious Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta on four occasions and has won both the Queen Mother Challenge Cup at the National Schools' Regatta (three times) and the Schools' Head of the River Race eights (four times).

[4][5] In 1982 the club was the first to be undefeated in Schools rowing in a single season, winning The Schools' Head of The River, Queen Mother Challenge Cup at National Schools' Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta.

They won the Special Race For Schools at Henley Royal Regatta but had defeated Eton College, the winners of the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in all of their races that year.

[citation needed] The Pengwern Boat Club shares the same stretch of the river and is located immediately to the west of the RSSBC.