FORMER captains, a coach and a sponsor were honoured by Marlow Rowing Club last week when three new boats and a coaching launch were christened in their names.

Club members and families gathered to celebrate the naming of the new additions to the rowing fleet.

Two boats were named after former club captains Paul Cox, who captained from 1998 to 2000, and Bret King who took charge from 2003 until earlier this year.

Paul Cox oversaw the continued development of both the men's and women's senior squads, helping the strong women's squad to achieve a high national ranking and victory for the club four at the Women's Henley Regatta in 2000.

Bret King's name will be carried on the club's new top-of-the-range Empacher quad.

He regenerated the club during his captaincy and nurtured the junior squads to generate international rowers and achieve high positions in Henley competitions.

Junior coach Paul Lennon, who died earlier this year, rapidly became involved in the club after his three children joined as rowers.

His widow Camilla christened the new Empacher double scull, which will be Marlow's flagship boat at national events.

Current club captain Tom McGibbon said: "We have an expanding membership so we always need new boats and equipment as it is important for us to compete at a high national level.

"People who put their time and effort into the club deserve to be recognised as it's usually a small number of people who do everything." The final boat was a new junior coaching team launch, named after sponsors Lewis Chambers, which was christened by their senior partner Mark Stokes with champagne.

Mr McGibbon added: "The naming day was a great excuse to get members down to the club to celebrate our achievements."