Girl on the River’s International Boat Club Awards

Just another day in the office.

For the last week I’ve been making everyone hate me with photos of my rowing trip to Bellagio, and I couldn’t blame you for being green with envy. I won’t be blogging about this trip as I’m writing it up for everyone’s favorite magazine, Rowing & Regatta, so don’t forget to look out for my article later in the summer. There will also – eventually – be GoPro footage to drool over once I’ve got around to editing it (OK, when my son has finished his GCSEs and can edit it for me…) and I promise to let you know about that when it’s done.

In the meantime, though, there is one bit of my trip that I can share with you. On my travels I got the chance to look around some pretty amazing rowing clubs (purely in the interests of journalistic research, you understand, and not in any way out of nosiness). They made quite an impression on me, so here are my very own international boat club awards.

Best view – Unione Sportiva Bellagina (USB)

This was our host club in Bellagio. Now, I know I’m on record as saying I’ve never rowed anywhere prettier than the River Wye, but I have to say USB is such a strong contender I fear it may have knocked lovely Monmouth into second place. So yes, we may have trees and kingfishers and ducklings and cygnets and lambs, but it’s hard to compete with snow-capped mountains and Italian villas.

This doesn’t even do it justice…

Still beautiful looking the other way…

USB also earns itself a second title, for best stash (and most generous gifts). How many clubs have keyrings made from Murano glass, or excellent, multi-pocketed bum-bags (or fanny-packs, as our American friends hilariously insist on calling them…) with the club crest on them? Thank you so much, USB – much appreciated. And Monmouth, seriously, we need to step up our stash.

Better than a T-shirt…

Cleanest boat house – Società Cannottieri Ceresio

This prize, you may not be surprised to learn, goes to a club in Switzerland, on Lake Lugano. Step on to the podium Società Cannottieri Ceresio. It is almost unnervingly immaculate. There is not a rigger out of line or a speck of dust to be seen. No bucket of mis-matched, leaking wellies. No box containing random “boat bits”. No pile of seats that have mislaid their boat. Just rows and rows of gleaming boats and a floor you could eat your dinner off. Wow.

Spotless

Coolest boat – Cannottieri Gavirate

Cannottieri Gavirate on Lake Varese might pride itself on hosting international events such as the International Para-rowing Regatta. Or on having amazing equipment and a tank to die for. Or on having racing lanes framed by a picture-perfect view. And yes, it really does have all of those things.

But for me, what really stood out at Gavirate was the coolest boat I’ve ever seen. Forget your Empachers and your Hudsons. This is the ride I’d like to be seen out in.

Pimp my ride

Swankiest facilities – Cannottieri Lario

I don’t even know where to start with this club on Lake Como. Perhaps it shouldn’t have been a surprise to find that a club in a town that attracts the likes of George Clooney is well-equipped, but nothing prepared me for the level of swank on display here. As we stepped into the marble-floored club room, the first thing we noticed was the double cabinet full of the most extraordinary trophies. I thought Monmouth’s assortment of giant cups was impressive, but these are of a different order…