Sunderland Amateur Rowing Club

This Club pre-dates the City of Sunderland RC, which changed name from South Hylton RC. The original Sunderland ARC club had entries at Durham Regatta in 1904. The Clubhouse was still standing in 1938.

21st September 1891
The Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette reported: Rowing on the Tyne.—The competitions in connection with the Armstrong Rowing Club were resumed and concluded on the Tyne on Saturday. The Sunderland A.R.C. were represented in the inter-club four-oared race and won their heat, but were beaten in the final.

Spring 1892

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  The Sunderland ARC boathouse, which was located approximately where the Stadium of Light football ground now stands

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  Location of the Sunderland ARC boathouse

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  Location of the Sunderland ARC boathouse shown on a 1938 map (Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland)

The Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette reported: The spirited progress manifested by the members of the Sunderland Amateur Rowing Club has just materialised itself in the shape of a new, commodious and substantial boathouse on the banks of the Wear. Those who are acquainted with the old wooden erection near the site of the Ravenswheel, which has done duty for more or less efficiently for years past, will appreciate at its true value, the structure that has taken place from plans prepared by Mr. J.W. Herring, of the River Wear Commission, under Mr H.H. Wake, C.E., who is also President of the Club, and has been the life and soul of the movement throughout. This new boathouse is about 70 yards further downstream and occupies a piece of land kindly granted by the Wearmouth Coal Company for a merely nominal acknowledgement.

A good deal of excavation had to be done in order to adapt the irregularities of the surface to the purpose in view. Wood, the former material, has been replaced by brick, which gives the boathouse a solid permanent appearance, and a minute examination of the interior economy satisfies the lay mind that oarsmen in no ways strain the truth when they declare it to be one of the finest in the Kingdom. Inside, the boathouse measures 60 x 32 feet; it has a cement floor, with racks for about twenty racing boats and room for pleasure craft underneath. The necessary sanitary provision has not been forgotten. A properly formed gangway leads down to the river and makes the launching of boats easy. Over the front half of the boathouse there is an additional storey, with club room 24 x 15 feet, comfortably;y furnished and with a projecting window.

Season 1913

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  The Sunderland ARC rowers photographed in 1913 (Photo courtesy of Fay Brown)