Women's rowing in the West of England goes back well into the last century. Ann Glanville of Saltash became a legend in the 1840's, beating many men's crews and rowing across the Channel to take part in and win a regatta at Le Havre. In the history of WEARA, the first mention is of a women's pairs race at Exeter Regatta in 1923. Most of the Women's Sections of existing clubs were formed in the 1930's. In Bideford there were several women's clubs - The Bideford and District Girls Club started rowing in 1934 and the West Bank Old Girls Association at about the same time. These two later amalgamated. Bideford and District Ladies R.C. started in 1948 and had its own premises up to 1961 when it merged with BAAC.
Although Women's Championships had been rowed unofficially at WEARA regattas since 1952, they were not made official until 1966. Janet Marcol from Torpoint became the first Lady President of WEARA in 1991.
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