Membership of Leander continues to be one of the most highly prized honours in rowing. The criteria for membership is 'proficiency in good oarsmanship and good fellowship', qualities which are shared by all those distinguished past and present oarsmen and women who comprise our Ordinary Members, as well as the world-class athletes who comprise our active rowing squad. Associate membership is also available for those men and women who may not have the same degree of rowing proficiency but who share the ethos of the Club, including its core values of teamwork, discipline, excellence and winning.

The current total membership of Leander now comprises almost 3500 men and women worldwide. Further details on each status of membership are available from the menu bar on the left.

Ordinary Membership

The Club rules require that the qualification for Ordinary Membership is 'good fellowship and proficiency in oarsmanship'. Among the criteria which fulfil the rowing aspect are: representing Great Britain at a world championship regatta (Senior, Junior or Under-23); rowing in a final at Henley Royal Regatta; and rowing in the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race. In addition membership is also available for those men and women who have given special service to the sport of rowing. However these criteria are not exhaustive, and an enquiry to the Membership Development Coordinator at the Club is often the best means to determine whether a potential candidate stands a reasonable chance of election.

Candidates must be proposed and seconded by two existing full Members, by completing an Ordinary Membership Application Form, and applications are considered at the club's monthly committee meetings.

For further information please contact the Club Office on 01491 575782

ORDINARY MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA - 'ROWING PROFICIENCY'

Our long-standing criteria for Ordinary Membership are ‘good fellowship and proficiency in oarsmanship’. In view of the rapid changes and rising standards in our sport, the term ‘proficiency’ now requires some clarification. The Committee is solely responsible for assessing each candidate's proficiency, as well as their good fellowship, but these guidelines (not ‘rules’) should be helpful for members wishing to propose new Ordinary Members. Attention is also drawn to the section on retrospective criteria (below).  It should be emphasised here that entry to our active Rowing squad is through a separate trials process, which is open to all-comers who feel they have the necessary potential. 

Rowing criteria
Clearly, those who have represented Great Britain (or other nations) in the major international championships meet our criteria, but it is perhaps worth clarifying that these include the World Under 23 and Junior Championships and cover all categories of competitors, including adaptive.

Those who have excelled within domestic rowing can also meet our criteria. Reaching the finals (exceptionally, the semi-finals) at Henley Royal Regatta is generally taken as evidence of ‘proficiency’, as are outstanding performances in the finals of the main elite events at the Women’s Henley Regatta. However, not all high calibre oarsmen and oarswomen reach Henley finals during their careers, so we also encourage candidates of a similar standard with a broader range of achievements – for example those who have a combination of wins in the open events at the National Championships, high level placings in the major Heads and a record of sustained success in other top domestic regattas.

Leander has always encouraged outstanding younger candidates. Our strong links to university rowing continue and the men’s and women’s Blue Boats meet our criteria, as do the Isis and Goldie crews. However we also strongly encourage candidates who have reached similar standards while rowing for other universities. Although it is many years since we have routinely elected leading Oxbridge college crews en bloc, we will consider individuals with a record of particular success in that environment (usually when coupled with additional service to their college clubs in leadership roles). This applies equally to other major rowing universities with thriving collegiate rowing.

Potential candidates from junior and schools’ rowing are usually limited to Henley finalists and to full Junior internationals. Exceptionally, we will consider others who can clearly be shown to be of equal calibre.

Retrospective criteria
For older candidates, we endeavour to use the criteria that would have been current at the time they were rowing, rather than to apply those used today (not least as many of their former crewmates will already be existing Leander members). Additionally, although women were not admitted as members until the early 1990s, we should emphasise that we encourage women candidates with suitably high level rowing achievements that pre-date that rule change. 

‘Services to Rowing’
Ordinary Membership is also available to those who have served the sport with distinction off the water. Among those who fall into this category are the primary coaches of the crews that have achieved our rowing criteria, as well as those who have given extended service as the chief coaches at leading clubs, schools and universities and who nowadays generally hold the higher level coaching qualifications. Officers of major rowing clubs or regattas who have given special service are frequently elected, as are those who have undertaken key roles in the administration of the sport. Long serving umpires (particularly multi-lane qualified) make up a further group and there are a variety of other ways in which our Ordinary Members have qualified through their services to rowing.

Further guidance
Potential proposers and candidates requiring further advice should contact Robert Treharne Jones (Membership Development) at omdg@leander.co.uk or via the club.

Associate Membership

Associate membership is also available for those men and women who may not meet the required standard of rowing proficiency but who share the ethos of the Club, including its core values of teamwork, discipline, excellence and winning. Most of our Associate Members are local residents who wish to take advantage of the Club's superb meeting, dining and bar facilities.

Candidates must be proposed and seconded by two existing Members, one of whom may be an Associate by completing an Associate Membership Application Form, and applications are considered at the club's monthly committee meetings.

For further information please contact the Club Office on 01491 575782

Spouse Membership

Any Member may elect to take an additional Membership for their spouse for whom there will be no election requirement or joining fee, just a 50% charge of the full fee. Spouse Members may use the facilities of the Club in their own right and entertain guests without incurring room hire charges.

Club Rules

Click here to download the club rules (Adobe pdf format)

FORMS AND MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

The following application forms are available to download:

Ordinary Membership Form

Associate Membership Form

Spouse Membership Form

For further information please contact the Club Office on 01491 575782

SUBSCRIPTIONS

The current annual subscription fee is £207 plus the ARA levy (currently £5 per year). In addition there is a joining fee equivalent to one year's subscription, making a total payable on election of £419. For those candidates under the age of 30 the annual fee is only £40 and there is no joining fee.

SECURE CREDIT CARD PAYMENT FOR OVERSEAS MEMBERS SUBSCRIPTION

Pink Hippo Club

BECOME A MEMBER! Donations from the Pink Hippo Club have proved invaluable to the rowing programme over the years and with your help this can continue. The first prize is £300, the second is £200 and the third prize is £100.

£12 per annum payable by standing order ensures entry in 2 draws a year. There is no limit on the number of tickets which can be held - please fill in the number of tickets you require on the standing order. Click here for a form to print out and and return to LEANDER CLUB, HENLEY-ON-THAMES, RG9 2LP