AN UNUSUAL rowing style will feature in a series of races along the rivers of Oxford next weekend.

An international regatta to celebrate the Venetian style of rowing will be held by City Barge Boat Club, a rowing club which champions the style in Oxford, on Saturday, September 28 and Sunday, September 29.

City Barge is welcoming practitioners of the rowing style from cities across Europe, including Paris, Frankfurt and Venice.

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The style is used by Venice’s gondoliers, who stand up on their boats, facing forward and pushing their paddle forward.

This is different to the style of rowing common to UK waterways, where rowers sit down facing backwards and pull their oar towards them.

Richard Robinson, a member of City Barge Boat Club said the club was expecting the races to be quite spectacular.

The two-day regatta will be based at Hertford College’s boathouse on the River Thames at Longbridges, on the towpath, half way between Donnington Bridge and Folly Bridge.

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Events on Saturday, September 28, will begin with a group row at 9.15am on the River Cherwell.

There is also a 2pm race around Longbridges Island and a 7.30pm dinner at Vaults Cafe on Radcliffe Square.

On Sunday, September 29, there is sprint racing from 9.30am, lasting most of the day until 3pm with a break for lunch.

City Barge was set up in September 1992 with the aim of promoting the use and enjoyment of hand-powered boats on the Isis and elsewhere.

Today, the club has six sandolo boats, a kind of Venetian craft, as well as having access to a ceremonial boat known as a shallop called the Royal Tamesis.

More details of the upcoming regatta and information about the City Barge Boat Club can be found at the website: citybargeclub.org