Monday May 16th 2005, Putney, London
Anyone who has ever collected Tideway Head numbers from Thames RC will probably have visited the old asbestos pre-fab gym which sat behind the clubhouse, along with the tank and number shed.
Well, they are No More, replaced by the new "Burrough Building", formally opened yesterday.
The new building makes full use of the site, squeezing in neatly behind TRC and IC. Downstairs is a proper, rowing-specific heavy-weights gym and a tank (the latter being fitted out by club genius John "Johnny Rigger" Russell), plus increased racking and a spacious workshop. Upstairs are two large and airy gym spaces, housing ergos on one side (16 Concept 2s and 5 Rowperfects so far) and core stability, flexibility and circuits work on the other. Additionally, a side room should ultimately house physio and treatment facilities - and the coaches finally have their own office space in which to plot world domination.
Although some equipment is still to arrive and minor work yet to be completed, TRC members plus a few GB squad members have been in and training since early April. Longtime members are still pinching themselves that the facilities - which have been on the drawing board for years - are finally here and are even better than anyone had dared hope.