Row Timer was conceived, designed and built by James Wilton and Nick Brunt

To find out more, or to enquire about using Row Timer at your event, please email info@rowtimer.com, or just head on over to the sign up page and get started!

For years, rowing events have relied on the old fashioned way of timing races: by using stop-watches, doing "maths", and then facing several hours of waiting while the results are finalised. This is immensely frustrating! Moreover, spectators are often heard asking "have they started yet?", only seeing their crew for a few minutes on the course, and having no idea how they are really doing.

Row Timer has been designed to allow real-time tracking of crews down the course so that spectators can see exactly when their crew has started and how they are stacking up against everyone else. As soon as the crew has finished, their time is available, and their current position in their category is displayed – updated as the other crews cross the line! It has proven very popular with coaches who are unable to get away from preparing their next crews to race by letting them keep tabs on what is going on.

The website has been optimised for use on smartphones so it is convenient to get the information quickly and easily. It is also made to be as light as possible on data use.

Row Timer is incredibly easy to use as an organiser. You can either import your entry list from BROE2, upload a custom draw spreadsheet, or create your draw right here in Row Timer using our crew editor, specifically designed to be as quick and simple as possible. The site is ready to go!

Once the draw has been created, there will be a row for every crew in the division, with the divisions on separate pages. On each division page the timer selects their timing point, either start, finish, or one of the two split points. As each crew reaches that timing point, the timer just presses the button for the crew. It couldn't be simpler!

If the timer presses a button accidentally, they can delete the time again easily. There are common-sense features built in, such as preventing times being recorded for crews that haven’t started yet.

Network signal can be a bit spotty at some locations, so we have factored this in. Row Timer will remember the correct time when you pressed the timing button and upload it as soon as the signal is good enough. We have done our best to make this as simple and reliable as possible!

We want to support rowing clubs across the world, so Row Timer is completely free to use! If you would like to support us, we would really appreciate a donation to help pay our server costs, especially if you use Row Timer for a public event that you make money from.

Hopefully every race uses a backup timing system. We absolutely recommend having a stop-watch back-up system as well. Relying on one system is never a good idea, no matter how great it is!

You ideally need to have at least 3G or H mobile internet signal at the timing points, although Row Timer will do its best to continue uploading times when it can, even in areas of patchy signal.

Make sure your timer’s phones are well charged. Row Timer does not use much battery life, but having your screen on continuously does!

The Row Timer system is fantastic, what a brilliant invention for coaches and spectators alike, with real time updates and instantaneous results.

Really impressed with Row Timer, great to have results as they happen.