• en
  • fr
  • de
  • es
  • zh
  • WinTech Racing
  • King Racing
  • Contact
Wintech Racing
  • Products
    Back
    • Athletes rowing WinTech Racing boat
      Racing boats
    • New & Used Inventory
    • Coastal boats
    • Adaptive boats
    • Recreational boats
    • Athlete Rowing
      Oars
    • View all Products
    Row the future, today
    • Racks
    • Finance & leasing
    • Spare Parts
    • Event rental
    • Rowing Blazers
    • Launches
    Try a boat
  • Technology
    Back
    • Innovation
    • CAD CAM
      Hull design
    • Carbon
      Materials
    • Construction
    • Manufacturing
    • Cockpit of a rowing boat
      Sizes
    • View all Technology
    Row the future, today
    • Specifications
    Try a boat
  • Help
    Back
    • medamenu-faq
      FAQs
    • Free WinTech Training Programme
    • World Map
      Find a dealer
    • Athletes rowing WinTech Racing boat
      Get in touch
    • Athlete rowing WinTech Racing boat
      New to boat buying?
    • boatrepair
      Boat repair & Insurance
    • View all Help
    Row the future, today
    • Our guides
    Try a boat
  • Discover
    Back
    • Athletes rowing WinTech Racing boat
      News and media
    • Athletes carrying a rowing boat
      Events
    • Why WINTECH Racing?
    • Company
    • Athlete on podium
      Success
    • Sustainability
    • View all Discover
    Tailored solutions for you
    • Sustainability
    • Find a dealer
    Try a boat
  • Demo
  • Find a dealer
News

Club Spotlight: Fulham Reach Boat Club

07 Dec 2021

You’d have to go a long way in the rowing community to find someone not yet familiar with the remarkable work of Fulham Reach Boat Club (FRBC). Despite the fact that the club was only established in late 2014, it has established itself as a key advocate in the fight to diversify and extend our sport to the farthest reaches of the United Kingdom.Seven years ago, Oarsport (UK dealer for WinTech Racing) delivered FRBC’s first fleet of boats to club CEO Steve O’Connor.

Created as collateral from a planning agreement between St George PLC and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF), the original contract allowed St. George to build 744 luxury flats in return for building and funding the launch of a new community boat club. Steve O’Connor, former Captain at London Rowing Club, was brought in to devise the strategy around what FRBC could and should become.

Oarsport delivering the first fleet of boats to Fulham Reach BC.

FRBC required a fleet of boats that would appeal to a cross-section of rowers from beginners right through to experienced racers looking for results on the water. They also wanted to work with a supplier who would facilitate and help manage a longer-term relationship in the knowledge that the club required a comprehensive fleet replacement plan as well as regular service and maintenance availability given the numbers they wanted to get on the water. 

This is where Oarsport & WinTech Racing came into the picture. Our scale, reputation for durable long lasting boats at fair prices along with our strong support for grassroots rowing communities in the UK meant we knew from the outset that the project Steve was building was something that we needed to play a role in. This along with our world-class customer service and athlete-orientated approach put us in prime position to cater for all of FRBC’s needs and they subsequently went on to purchase a full fleet of the following to get the project off the ground.

  • Singles x5
  • Pair Doubles x5
  • Fours/Quads x4
  • Eights x3

Just some of the new boats.

Reflecting back, it is hard to conceive just how far Steve and his team have brought the club in such a short space of time. Just recently the club took delivery of a second similar sized fleet of boats. The opportunities that FRBC have provided for thousands of local school children simply would not have existed were it not for the tireless commitment and broad strategic vision of key FRBC stakeholders and supporters. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, FRBC were able to help every state school in the LBHF get some level of access to the river, something that is widely thought to be a first in the UK.

The figures speak for themselves. Between September 2019 and March 2020, the club played host to a thousand participants from 10 schools – 61% were female and 53% were Black, Asian or a Minority Ethnicity. As for their experiences passing through the FRBC doors and out onto the glistening waters of the Thames, 91% enjoyed the course, 78% felt more confident on the water and 67% would love to continue rowing.

Steve and his team have created a simple framework for measuring success – they want to provide access to rowing for a cross-section of the local community, especially those who are most in need because of financial hardship or social circumstance, and help them realise their full potential both on and off the water.

‘Boats not Bars’, the newest initiative to cross the FRBC threshold, is championed by double World Champion, Imogen Walsh. The program is focused on delivering rowing-related sessions at local prisons and then offering free memberships at FRBC to the participants on their release. The effect is clear to see – several of the graduates have gone on to become coaches at FRBC.

It goes without saying that our support for FRBC is something we’re immensely proud of. They’ve achieved something that represented a first in our community and our country and the precedent they’ve created can now be replicated in other under-served areas of the UK.

Fulham Reach CEO Steve O’Connor. Photo Credit: Ben Tufnell Photography.

“FRBC has a vision of ‘Rowing for All’ and the WinTech fleet and Oarsport team have been a key part of us being able to deliver this,” explained Steve”.  From our first conversations through to our initial fleet delivery and beyond to the latest second fleet of boats, the working relationships we have in place have meant that we have been able to provide for both competitive rowers and beginners in the sport at the same time with a competitively priced fleet and great after-sales support.”

FRBC are a standing example that we can and should actively work to change the face of our sport. “We want to expand our impact,” said Steve. “Our vision is to open up the river to thousands more young people. Ideally this would be via a second site but we’re looking at any and all ways of making it easier for people to get out on the water”.

Continued success for FRBC seems a guarantee – and we’re hoping to be with them every step of the way.

Looking to build a WinTech Fleet?

Come and join #TeamWinTech today! Our value goes beyond that of just a great product for a great price. Our sales advisors can help you put together an equipment buying strategy with finance and leasing options  to help work your budget harder and smarter.

GET IN TOUCH TO TRY A BOAT

VIEW OUR RANGE

News and media

Our latest news, events, tips and advice. read more news

News
European Rowing U19 Championships 2022
23 May 2022

European Rowing U19 Championships 2022

Tutorials
20 May 2022

C-Cup Oarlock Bracket Pitch Adjustment

Tutorials
20 May 2022

How to Rig a Boat

We use cookies to elevate your user experience and enhance the quality of our site. To find out more view our privacy policy.
WinTech Racing Logo
Get ahead with email updatesReceive the latest product updates and WINTECH Racing news
View our privacy policy
WinTech Racing

WinTech Racing’s mission is to promote the growth of rowing by making it easier and more affordable to buy quality shells that improve performance at all levels. Row the future, today.

Contact your local distributor


Products

  • Racing Boats
  • Adaptive Boats
  • Recreational Boats
  • Launches
  • Spare Parts

Technology

  • Innovation
  • Hull design
  • Materials
  • Construction
  • Manufacturing
  • Sizes
  • Specifications

Help

  • Boat repair
  • Contact
  • FAQs
  • Finance and rental options
  • Try a boat

Discover

  • News
  • Events
  • Company
  • History
  • Team
  • Why WinTech
  • Sustainability
© 2022 WINTECH Racing. All rights reserved. Website by Absolute
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms and conditions