Merton Gannets BC has existed on-and-off since the fifties as a way for old Mertonians to row competitively without the commitment level required at a normal club. Gannets activities are organised on a rather ad-hoc basis, however there is now a Facebook group which allows us to keep in touch and organise crews for particular regattas.

Generally the Gannets race when they feel like it, in other words when the weather is nice, the race is not too demanding, and they can get a decent crew together. Because equipment has to be borrowed, usually from MCBC, the Gannets often attend the same regattas as Merton, such as Bedford Quarts, Head of the River, Oxford City bumps and Oxford City Royal. Training is minimal to non-existent, the whole point being to prove that skilful oarsmanship and wily coxing will usually get the better of youthful exuberance.

Why are we called the Gannets? It's because gannets catch crabs from a great height.

To continue the Merton theme of education, here is a picture of some gannets.