British Rowing breaks tradition

Great Britain's Amateur Rowing Association (ARA) is changing its name. The ARA is to become British Rowing.

Described in the GB Rowing press release, the reason for the renaming, which has been accepted in principle, is for sponsorship reasons. The ARA is rebranding as a “result of the on-going partnership initiatives where British sport benefits from the expertise of large companies.”  

The ARA was set up in 1882. By that stage Oxford University and Eton College had already established rowing and the one of the oldest existing rowing club, Leander was in existence as well as other clubs. The ARA governs rowing in England covering 550 clubs with a membership of about 23,000. It is responsible for training and selecting crews to represent Great Britain. Scotland and Wales have their own rowing associations.

A new logo is being developed for use at the British club, regional and international level. The Rowing Service has posted a look at the new logo: http://www.rowingservice.com/ARAlogonew.jpg

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