Cygnet Rowing Club

Cygnet on Film

Double Diamond, 1972

The club's first foray into the spotlight was in 1972 when this Double Diamond advert first appeared. Some of the members who took part will tell you that they were told to row badly for effect. Those current rowers who have been coached by them are not so sure.

Sliding Doors, 1997

This article went into Regatta magazine in 1997 (with thanks to Rachel Quarrell).

There are two stories behind our club's selection as the "opposition" crew in the film Sliding Doors. The first and, let's face it, most likely is that the director (Peter Howitt) was flicking through a catalogue of rowing club's kit and colours and he loved our double blue hoops so much that we were selected. The second, which can't be true, is that they first went to IC but they didn't look like "real people" (all over two metres with flat stomachs and their own teeth). Aha!, thought Mr. Howitt, Cygnet are slow, fat, bald and gummy - just what I need. And so it came to pass that a rag-tag and bobtail crew from Cygnet took part in a couple of days rowing, filming, singing and drinking (all on expenses), and earned the club a few hundred quid in the process. Want to see us? Then buy it from Amazon you tight git. Arse.

The following has since been received from the Horse's Mouth (as it were). "The story with Cygnet's selection for this defining 'rowed movie' was that they needed a crew to make John Hannah look (comparatively) young, thin and handsome. Judge for yourself from the attached cast photo. Note the warm affection between Gwyneth and Chris Shea (left of Miss Paltrow). It was no surprise to us when she chucked Brad Pitt the week after!"

Two Fat Ladies, 1998

A Radio Times promotional photoshoot for the "Oxbridge Rowers" episode. Fat-Boy in the middle looks to have taken full advantage of all the Ladies' kitchen had to offer.