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Rowing

Jolly rowing at Eton College, home to Prime Ministers and Kings

TAKING PLACE in the shadow of Windsor Castle, the rowing at Dorney Lake in Eton will held be in a truly picturesque setting that is sure to capture the imagination of the television audience round the world.

The 2,200 metres course, funded and built by Eton College, the famous English public school that has produced 18 Prime Ministers and was recently attended by Prince William and Prince Harry, in a project first conceived more than 10 years ago will have an early opportunity to test its facilities when it stages the 2006 World Rowing Championships.

Almost 1000 rowers from around 60 nations are expected to take part in the event in August, which will be televised live by BBC TV Sport. The British team, which has two world champion crews in the men’s four and women's quadruple scull, is likely to feature between 70-90 rowers in more than 20 boat classes.

“It’s an outstanding course,” said Sir Matthew Pinsent, the four-time Olympic gold medallist. “All the international athletes who have raced there give it the thumbs up.”

In 2012, there will be seating for 20,000 spectators and, as one of Britain’s most consistently successful sports, tickets for the rowing are sure to be much in demand.

The site is located 25 miles from the Olympic Village but is well served by excellent transport links. The lake is just five miles from Heathrow Airport, the M4 is close by and there are several train stations in the area, including Windsor, Slough, Burnham and Taplow.

A bridge to allow more access between Windsor and Dorney Lake is also being planned as part of the site. The Dorney Lake Trust together with the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead have been discussing ideas for the £2 million bridge that it is hoped will ease possible congestion of visitors to the venue when the games take place.