Hannover Exchange

One of Bristol's twin cities is Hannover, and in 2017 both cities celebrated 70 years of the exchange. The Bristol-Hannover Council encourages all kinds of exchanges, cultural, sporting and economic. Ariel has been an important part of this relationship since 1981 when the first exchange took place between ourselves and German rowing club RV Linden 1911. Our friendship with Linden is very important to us and continues to be a key part of the club's identity.

We take turns to visit each other on alternate years, making the journey across the channel to compete and meet old friends and new.  Each club is very hospitable, with individual members hosting visitors in their own homes.  A lot of work goes into designing a programme of activities that will interest guests so that they not only take part in rowing but get a taste of the cultural life of each other's city.

A tradition continued

Ariel schedules the trip to Hannover so that it coincides with the Head of the River Leine, Germany's most renowned head race.  A Head race is one that involves the rowers racing against the clock rather than another crew over a distance of more than 4km. This is a highly competitive race for eights, boats with eight rowers, and attracts many international oarsmen and women.

Each year, whether we are in Bristol or Hannover, Linden and Ariel battle it out for the coveted Bristol Hannover Challenge Cup.