In recent years we have bought and part funded new boats and training equipment. Last year we bought a leg press for the boathouse. All of the purchases are made possible thanks to the funds raised through our events and contributions at Regattas.
Rowing is a very capital intensive sport: for example, a new single scull can cost up to £9000 and a new “eight” up to £50,000. Add in the cost of spares (riggers: £400 each, shoes: £100, seats £180 etc.) and the running costs of the launches and pick-ups, and the bills soon mounts up.
The Abingdon Boathouse Appeal 2003 saw a spectacular financial input from FASBC. In the period up to July 2003 £65,000 was raised towards the new boathouse which was built in the summer of 2003.
The success of FASBC is recognised widely, within Abingdon School itself, but also by other rowing schools and organisations. The recipe for success is quite simple. Mix together rowers’ parents, heaps of enthusiasm, lots of humour and an equipment wish list from Mark Earnshaw, Teacher in Charge of rowing.
| With a little help from my friends… | |
| 2020 | New ‘eight’ for the J14s |
| 2017-18 | £1640 for the purchase of a leg press for the boathouse |
| 2015 – 16 | £9200 A new Filippi pair |
| 2014 – 15 | £6000 Eight Watt bikes |
| 2013 | £5000 for a set of telemetry |
| 2011-12 | £10,000 raised for a “swingulater” |
| 2009-10 | £10,000 raised towards a new “eight” |
| 2008 | Launch and new pair |
| 2007 | New pair |
| 2006 | £6,500 for a new Four |
| 2005 | New quad for the J14s |
| 2004 | £4,288 for 5 new ergos £500 for a second-hand ergo |
| 2003 | £8,528 for the purchase of ex GB coxless four – Peter & Elaine Hemsley |
| 2002 | Funds carried forward |
| 2001 | Funds carried forward |
| 2000 | £4,000 towards purchase of new coxed four – James Cobban |
| 1999 | £3,000 towards the purchase of a four from Shiplake – Anita |
| 1998 | £3,000 for various equipment |
| 1997 | £2,347 for the purchase of 10 blades for the 1st VIII |
| 1996 | £2,600 for the purchase of a second hand eight for J15 – Amici Societatis £2,000 for Grenoble rowing camp |
| 1995 | £2,000 for two second hand quad sculls and two sets of blades for J14/15 |
| 1994 | £873 Octuple Scull conversion |
| 1993 | £250 towards the Boat Club Easter Training Camp |
| 1992 | £10 Mower spare parts £45 Boat Trestles £1,000 Boat purchases |
| 1991 | £250 towards the costs of the senior coxed four representing England in the Home Counties Championships |
