Facility will be used to inspire the next generation of female rowers

The new Putney High School and Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) boathouse will be opened on Sunday 31 January by British Rowing Chairman and Olympian, Annamarie Phelps.



Situated on Putney Embankment, one of the most prestigious locations on the River Thames, the boathouse takes pride of place at the start of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race course.

The 71st Women’s Boat Race will take place on Sunday 27th March 2016. This year, for only the second time in the race’s history, the all-female crews will row the same 6.8km (4.2 mile) stretch as the male crews. This is more than three and a half times the length of the previous women’s race held at Henley.

Suzie Longstaff, Headmistress of Putney High School, and herself a former Olympic cox, said:
“The opening of the only all-female boathouse on the Tideway represents an historic moment in girls’ rowing. I hope it will inspire generations of girls to try out this fantastic sport. Who knows, in a few years, we could see Putney High girls and their GDST peers racing in the Women’s Boat Race.”

Rowing is offered as part of the Putney High School curriculum from Year 9 upwards and as a club activity from Year 7. Recent wins for student teams include a win in the Junior pairs category at the Pairs Head of the River.

Later this year, the Putney High School senior rowing team hope to compete at Henley Royal Regatta for the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup.