South Shields Amateur Rowing Club

South Shields Amateur Rowing Club was based on the river Tyne, close to the North East Maritime Centre. The clubhouse and slipway are still in existence. The Club folded in the 1960s.

The club may have initially been the "South Shields Working Mens' Rowing Club" mentioned in Bells Life of 9th April 1881;

"A match in open boats for a gold medal and a bet of £5 was on Saturday afternoon brought off on the Tyne, from the Tyne Dock Coal Jetties to Jarrow Quay corner, a distance of about 3/4 of a mile between John Jones and James Butcher, both of South Shields Working Mens Rowing Club. The event excited some interest amongst the members and friends of the latter association, and the Coquet steamer, which had been chartered to accompany the race, was well patronised. The river was in excellent condition for sculling and the competitors had a good tide underneath them.

The lads had undergone a course of training for the match, Jones having been under the care of J. Lawton, while W. Carr has looked after Butcher and both were well forward in condition. There was a limited amount of speculation on Jones at 6 to 4 and as the result proved, the layers of the odds were in the right. James Fawcett was the Starter and Mr. John Vickers the referee".

13th August 1881
Bell's Life reported: The events left unfinished at the South Shields Rowing Club Regatta were brought to a conclusion on Friday week, over a half mile course on the Tyne, by the side of the South Pier, and favoured with fine weather, the proceedings were participated in by a large number of spectators. Mr. G.R. Potts was Starter and Mr. Andrew Harrison was judge. Results: Mackay Challenge Cup - final heat - J. Cook, R.D. Lawson, C.E. Bell and T.T. Anderson (Stroke), 1. D. McNeil, J.L. Stainton, F.F. Rennoldson and D.U. Law (Stroke), 2. With a little advantage from the inside station, Anderson's crew held the lead throughout and won a good race by half a length. President's prize - Heat 1. J.L. Stainton, R.D. Lawson, C.G. Bell, C. Rennoldson (Stroke), 1. A.E. Leete, J.D. Lawson, T.H. Morrison, T.T. Anderson (Stroke), 2. Won by a length. Heat 2 - R.W.C. Newland, W.A. Smith, Fred Rennoldson, John White Junr. (Stroke), a bye. Final Heat - Rennoldson's crew and White's crew - The former got away with a slight lead, which they held until 200 yards of the finish, when White and his mates spurted up to them and the two boats finished a dead heat. The decider was adjourned.