Join us for a rowing and punting taster session

Rowing and punting are healthy and enjoyable outdoor sports that you canparticiate in throughout the year. Skiffing and punting build a strong core, balance and full-body strength, whilst being outdoors on our beautiful Thames is great for mental relaxation and wellbeing. They are also very accessible sports, with no need for previous experience; many take up these water sports to maintain fitness in addition to other sports.

At the club we offer free Taster Sessions for both sports on every Wednesday evening at 18.30 to 20.00 hours, these will run from 3 rd June to 8 th July. No experience is necessary as you are guided by experienced members of the club. In terms of clothing, wear sportswear, such as you would wear to the gym, and you might want to bring a small dry bag for your valuables or a padlock for our lockers. It is a perfect introduction to the sports, and also an opportunity to find out more about the club. You can get fit and enjoy the beauty of the Thames against the backdrop of Hampton Court Palace.

Following your session on the river, join us on our river terrace and enjoy a drink after your outing.

Once you have joined as a member there are a wide range of sessions that take place through out the week that you can join.

  • Monday night punting sessions.
  • Tuesday & Thursday club nights.
  • The social outing on Friday morning.
  • ‘Bridge to Bridge’ (Hampton Court to Kingston) on Saturdays.
  • Sunday morning singles.
  • Sunday junior rowing sessions.
  • Regattas – every weekend through the summer.
  • Numerous club social events.

A record number of new members joined us after attending our 2023 Taster Sessions and we asked some of our new members what appealed to them:

“Dittons is the friendliest sports club I have ever been part of. Everyone is so encouraging and kind. You can come as often as you want, and there is something on almost every day of the week.” Rachael Coates, 34

“It felt so welcoming and accessible with no requirements for prior experience…and then I felt like I was involved, progressing and competing in no time. Such a great organisation.” Joe Pilkington, 35

“Dittons is a very sociable environment, I enjoyed learning a new traditional sport in a fantastic setting. And we have a great clubhouse with riverside bar and views of Hampton Court.” Derek Farr

“The club provides the best opportunity to get on the river and make the most of living in Thames Ditton.” Nick Barr, 50

We look forward to seeing you!

Try Rowing

At the club we offer free taster sessions every Wednesday from 6.30pm to 8pm hours, from 3 rd June to 8 th July.  This gives you the opportunity come along and give the sport a try.

Once a member we have a variety of different sessions that take place through out the week:

No experience is necessary you are guided by experienced members of the club and it is a great fun introduction to rowing. You can come along and enjoy the beauty of the Thames against the backdrop of Hampton Court Palace.

No need to book, just turn up at the club house at 6.30 pm and we will arrange crews.

Please remember to wear sportswear, such as you would wear to the gym.

Try Punting

Punting is great fun as well as being very skilful. It is also the most elegant of the traditional summer sports. Dittons has been an active punting club from inception and has provided many champions – including both the current men’s and women’s amateur champions with the club also winning the Morris trophy for the best punting club on the Thames.

Taster Sessions

At the club we offer free taster sessions every Wednesday from 6.30pm to 8pm, from 3 rd June to 8 th July.  This gives you the opportunity come along and give the sport a try.

Monday Evenings
In addition to the Wednesday evening taster sessions, there is the opportunity for anyone to come along on a Monday evening and give the sport a go.  From  27 th  April at 6.00 pm till dusk we welcome anyone new to the sport as well as train and generally enjoy the river. Suitable clothing would be comfortable sports kit, old trainers and spare clothes to change into in case of (unusually) falling in. We punt on the shallow edge of the river but punting is a water sport and we do ask that you can swim.

Throughout the summer we take “pub away-days” trips up and down stream when good weather is forecast for the weekend.

New members are welcome. No need to book, just turn up at the clubhouse from 27 th April on Monday evenings 6 pm onwards.

Learn to Row Course

The first of these courses will take place on the evening of Friday 26 th and morning of Saturday 27 th June. We are running a second course on Sunday 5 th July. 

This comprises two sessions designed for those new to rowing – learning all the essentials on the river with our experienced coaches.  

Each course is great value at only £60 (payable before the first session) – and we will deduct the £60 off the price of your first year’s membership if you decide to join. Your coaching will continue until both you and we feel you are competent.

Back to Row Course

We will not now be running this course, if interested please refer to the Learn to Row Course

Answers to questions you may have:

Not particularly, but you do need to be able to step into and out of the boat below riverbank level. You need to be capable of swimming 50m in clothing. (You will NOT be asked to do this as part of the course)

Any kind of sports kit and trainers. It’s best to avoid jeans or ‘hoodie’ sweatshirts that have a front pouch for your hands – the oar handles tend to get caught in them.

The course is for adults only (18 or over) but there’s no upper age limit provided you are in good health. We have several members in their 70s who skiff regularly.

For safety reasons the course may be postponed if there’s strong winds, fog or a fast stream. We’ll notify you as early as we can but due to the open-air sport it’s possible – but unlikely – that there may be late notice. If it’s not possible to rearrange the course we’ll refund your course fee.

At our Clubhouse; Albany Reach, Queen’s Rd, Thames Ditton KT7 0QH

Please fill in the form below.

    Gender: MaleFemale

    Can you swim 50m in light clothing?*: YesNo

    Please get in touch via the Contact Us page.

    Learn to Punt Course

    We have no current plans to run this course. If you are interested in punting please come along on a Monday night started 27 th April from 6 pm and give it a try. Alternatively we are running taster sessions from the 3 rd June to the 8 th of July.

    Not particularly, but you do need to be able to step into and out of the boat below riverbank level. You need to be capable of swimming 50m in clothing. (You will NOT be asked to do this as part of the course)

    Any kind of sports kit and trainers. It’s best to avoid jeans or ‘hoodie’ sweatshirts that have a front pouch for your hands – the oar handles tend to get caught in them.

    The course is for adults only (18 or over) but there’s no upper age limit provided you are in good health. We have several members in their 70s who skiff regularly.

    For safety reasons the course may be postponed if there’s strong winds, fog or a fast stream. We’ll notify you as early as we can but due to the open-air sport it’s possible – but unlikely – that there may be late notice. If it’s not possible to rearrange the course we’ll refund your course fee.

    At our Clubhouse; Albany Reach, Queen’s Rd, Thames Ditton KT7 0QH

    Please fill in the form below.

      Gender: MaleFemale

      Can you swim 50m in light clothing?*: YesNo

      Please get in touch via the Contact Us page.