Meet Angus: The Great Dane Rowing Club Mascot Behind Our Rowing Collection

Every rowing club needs somebody dependable enough to attend the early starts, imposing enough to supervise the boathouse and sufficiently interested in sandwiches to remain alert through an entire regatta.

At ours, that role belongs to Angus.

Angus is our blue Great Dane and honorary rowing club mascot. She has never pulled an oar, carried a boat or offered any useful advice about rowing technique, but she has nevertheless become a very important member of the crew.

Her duties are largely self-appointed: inspecting the boathouse, greeting returning rowers, watching proceedings from the bank and ensuring nobody opens a packet of food without consulting her first.

She takes the position extremely seriously.

The unofficial boathouse dog

There is something about dogs and boathouses that simply belongs together.

Both suit early mornings, muddy paths, damp weather and long stretches beside the water. While crews prepare their boats, the boathouse dog patrols the landing stage, welcomes visitors and finds the warmest available place to sit.

Some dogs quietly watch the crews. Others appoint themselves head of security. Most become highly skilled at recognising the exact sound of somebody opening lunch.

Angus has naturally embraced the senior supervisory role.

At Great Dane size she is rather more noticeable than the average club dog. Her presence gives her an undeniable air of authority, even when she is doing absolutely nothing.

Getting her into a rowing boat would present challenges for both balance and boat speed, so Angus remains happily on dry land. From there she can watch the crews leave, patrol the boathouse and welcome everyone back with the solemn expression of somebody who believes she organised the entire outing.

The painted oars that inspired our collection

Painted rowing blades are artworks in their own right.

Every combination of stripes, colours and geometric shapes represents a club and its history. Displayed together, old oars have a collected quality that feels sporting, traditional and full of character.

That visual history inspired our vintage rowing-oar designs.

Rather than reproducing the blade of one particular club, we created a collection of softly weathered oars in muted blues, faded yellow, cream, olive and touches of plum. The result has the appearance of painted blades gathered from different boathouses over many years.

It is unmistakably inspired by rowing, but it also fits naturally into British country style, riverside living and relaxed interiors.

Rowing style beyond the river

Our vintage rowing T-shirt carries that painted-oar artwork into an easy everyday piece. The muted green background and gently aged oars give it the feel of an old sporting illustration.

Traditional rowing style has always extended beyond what is worn inside the boat. Club colours, striped blazers, canvas shoes and knitted layers helped create the relaxed, preppy appearance associated with regattas and boathouse life.

Our painted-oar trainers bring that influence into an everyday shoe, while the heritage-blue rowing swimsuit carries the same palette to warmer days beside the water.

Rowing gifts for crews, coaches and families

Rowing creates a community well beyond the people currently sitting in a boat. Coaches, coxes, parents, former rowers, alumni and regatta regulars all carry their own connection to the sport.

That makes rowing-inspired clothing and homeware especially thoughtful gifts. The vintage rowing-oar coasters, for example, bring the colours and character of painted blades into the home in a small, useful way.

They work beautifully as a birthday present, coach gift, Christmas present or thank-you for somebody who has spent years providing lifts, carrying bags and standing beside rivers in every possible type of weather.

Bringing boathouse style into the home

Rowing-inspired interiors can be wonderfully subtle. Weathered timber, navy and heritage green, old sporting photographs, natural textiles and painted oars sit comfortably within country, coastal and riverside homes.

Our ochre rowing-oar tablecloth makes a stronger statement while keeping the same relaxed sporting character. Styled with old wooden chairs, simple pottery and greenery, it brings a little of the boathouse to an everyday dining space.

What makes a good gift for a rower?

A good rowing gift feels connected to the sport and the life around it. Clothing featuring vintage blades, a practical water bottle, rowing coasters or boathouse-inspired homeware can all feel personal to somebody who still feels at home beside the water.

What is boathouse style?

Boathouse style combines traditional sporting details with relaxed waterside living: painted blades, weathered timber, striped textiles, muted club colours, old photographs, canvas and natural materials.

It works particularly well alongside British country, coastal and preppy interiors.

Angus remains in charge

Our rowing collection may have been inspired by painted blades and traditional boathouse style, but Angus remains its unofficial head of operations.

She may never contribute to boat speed or understand the race plan. What she does provide is loyalty, enthusiasm and a very impressive presence on the bank.

Every crew needs somebody waiting when they return.

At ours, that somebody happens to be a Great Dane.