Madras Boat Club is situated in the Southern India in the historical city of Chennai in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This happens to be one of the oldest rowing centres in India.
History of Madras Boat Club
The club was founded by a few Englishmen in the Indian city of Chennai in the year 1867. As per records, it is clear that the club was first started in the backwaters of Ennore and the images of the rowing course lying alongside sailing course are available in the club achieves. There is a high possibility that few sailors, back in England, with some involvement and enthusiasm in rowing, who mooted the idea of establishing the rowing facility.
Later on, in the year 1892, the club was shifted to a position where it is located today- on banks of Adyar River. With the increase in the number of members and requirement of exclusive stretch of water for themselves, the shift was though necessary! Early records of the club show that there were 32 rowing members and 24 non-rowing members in 1874-75. In the year 1898, club coated dark blue with brass buttons as club monogram, which is in use even today. This club conducted inter club and intra club regattas during the early days, and received tremendous press coverage in the process. One name that figure constantly during that period is that of F. H. Wilson, for his sculling prowess.
Amateur Rowing Association of the East was founded in 1933, and Madras Boat Club was one of the founder members, along with Calcutta Rowing Club. For the inaugural regatta of the Amateur Rowing Association of the East in the year 1933 held at Indian city of Pune, Madras Boating Club won the Willingdon Fours and the Venables Pairs trophies. In the early years, the club was able to maintain its commendable records.
M M Muthiah, in 1967, was elected as the President of the club. He was elected at a time when club was struggling to keep alive the interest of rowing among people. And in order to generate interest among people, students were encouraged to take up rowing, and as a result they were made members of the club. The year 1967, the 100th anniversary of the club, MBC won the esteemed Willingdon Fours at the ARAE regatta
Enthusiasm and dedication was never absent from the members of the club, and it mainly contributed towards the growth of the club. Borun Chanda, in the early years of 1970s, introduced ways of organized training and coaching that curved the way for better presentation on water. Due to hard work, the result also came thick and fast. The year 1972 saw MBC winning Willingdon trophy and followed it up by winning all the three trophies at the ARAE regatta, the very next year, 1973. Two year after this, the Rowing Federation of India was set up. The first Indian National Rowing Championship was held in the year 1977 in the Indian city of Kolkata, West Bengal. The state of Tamil Nadu was represented by rowers from the Madras Boat Club. The rowers from MBC helped the club to win the Gold medal. Some of the best performances came in the year 1981, at National events in Pune. The Madras Boat Club team won four of the six Gold medals available and was awarded the shield for the "Best team in Tamil Nadu" by the Tamil Nadu Sports Journalist`s Association. Rowing was introduced as a part of Asian Games in 1982. The events were held in Ramgarh Lake, Jaipur, in the state of Rajasthan.
The Indian team, for the first time, under guidance and coaching of Borun Chanda, participated in the World Rowing Championship in the year 1983. Madras Boat Club has always extended its help and cooperation towards providing facilities to any organisation involved in the sport. Many members of Tamil Nadu Amateur Rowing Association were allowed to avail the services of the club for training purposes.
The activities of the club grew phenomenally in the 1980s. The member counts also grew from 74 to over 600 individuals. The increase in the member size also led to better administration. And in 1990 there were sweeping changes that were made in the infrastructural sector of the club. New machinery and facilities were installed for members. Latest boats and oars were brought in.
Over the years the whole-hearted co-operation of the staff and workers has made the club in many ways unique.
