WSPC was formed by a group of keen river sports enthusiasts back in the summer of 1931. At this time there were already three other skiff clubs in existence these being The Skiff Club formed in 1895, Dittons Skiff and Punting Club formed in 1923 and Thames Valley Skiff Club also formed in 1923. In recent years the sport has seen the rebirth of Wargrave Boat Club and the formation of Granta Skiff Club in Cambridge.

The objectives of the Club were to promote and encourage the traditional sports of racing in Thames skiffs and punts, and this is still true today.

The Club still uses equipment donated by its first benefactor Eric Haines, who provided a clubhouse in Old Windsor and both skiffs and punts before the Club could buy its own.

What is a skiff? A skiff is a traditional clinker built rowing boat with fixed seats originally used by ferrymen or pleasure boats on the Thames but, is perhaps best known as the boat used by Jerome K. Jerome’s, Three Men in a Boat.

What is a punt? Most people will conjure up the vision of the undergraduate at Oxford or Cambridge, a girl with a parasol, a picnic hamper and champagne but, racing punts are as little as one foot wide and need tremendous skill and balance to propel them at surprisingly fast speeds.

In 1975, the Club left Old Windsor and relocated some two miles downstream to its current location on a picturesque site adjoining the historic Runnymede Pleasure Grounds, the site of the signing of the Magna Carta.

In 1987, to complement the traditional Thames sports, the Club started to encourage the even older sport of dragon boat racing. The Club has represented Great Britain at international events in a number of countries including Borneo, Canada, Holland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and the United States.

In 2007, the Club opened its new modern purpose build clubhouse and boathouse, providing a valuable sports facility to the Borough of Runnymede.

The Club is first and foremost a racing club and participates in leagues for all three sports.

The season runs from May through to October when regattas are held at various locations between Henley and Teddington on the River Thames.

The Club hosts 4 of these regattas the oldest of which, Egham Amateur Regatta, dates back to 1909.

The highlight of the skiffing season is the Skiff Championships Regatta held at Henley. This regatta also incorporates the Teddington Reach Regatta which celebrated its centenary in 1992.

The highlight of the punting season is the Punting Championships held at Maidenhead. These championships have been contested since the 1800’s.

The highlight of the dragon boat season is the National Championships held at the National Water Sports Centre at Nottingham’s Holme Pierpoint.

The Club has a current membership of about 200, of which about 50% are still actively competing.

The sport has always had a close association with rowing and over the years the Club has produced some notable rowers including internationals, Henley Royal Regatta winners and National Coaches.

The Dragonboat section has had representatives in the Great Britain Open, Junior, Womens, Veteran Womens and Veteran Mens crews.

The Club also has a thriving junior section which introduces children to the river in dinghies and canoes as a step towards the larger boats. The regattas often offer such events specially for children.