Leander Club

1818

The Leander Club is one of the oldest, most prestigious and successful, rowing clubs in the world, and the oldest non-academic club. Founded in 1818 and now located on the River Thames where the Henley Royal Regatta takes place every year. In its early days, Leander was as much a social association as a competitive rowing club. They entered a crew at Henley Royal Regatta for the first time in 1840, the year following the regatta's foundation. Until 1856, the number of members was limited to twenty-five men. After this date membership was increased to thirty-five and the limit finally abolished in 1862. In 1860 the club moved to Putney, building a boathouse in 1866. Thirty years later, in 1897, the club purchased land in Henley-on-Thames and constructed its current clubhouse. The club won its first Olympic medal in 1908 and boasts Sir Steve Redgrave CBE, Sir Matthew Pinsent CBE, triple gold medallist Peter Reed OBE and double gold medallists James Cracknell OBE amongst its members.

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