As we usher in a new year, clubs across the country will be chalking up their game plans to prepare for a successful rowing year. But who should we earmark as crews and clubs to keep a beady eye on? Whilst all clubs will undoubtedly be making every effort to achieve their goals, here are some names that we should expect to achieve records in some shape or form.
Agecroft Rowing Club
Equipped with a healthy fleet of boats and training programmes to fulfil all rowing needs, Agecroft Rowing Club is an all-rounder of a club that performs well across multiple levels of competition.
With Paralympian Gregg Stevenson winning gold in the PR2 mixed doubles with Lauren Rowles and Graeme Thomas competing in the men’s quadruple sculls at the recent Paris Olympic Games, Agecroft stands as an excellent model for ambition and teamwork.
Locally, ARC hosted Agecroft Head in October, putting in a strong performance. With podium positions across all boat classes, Agecroft has initiated their season in the best way possible. Having qualified two men’s crews at Henley Royal Regatta 2024, one in the Thames Challenge Cup and the other in The Prince of Wales Challenge Cup, Agecroft did what they always do and put their best foot forward. Whilst their efforts may not have culminated in weekend placements, they will be looking to build on their momentum in 2025. This upcoming season, I hope to see Agecroft continue pushing for better results and boating crews worthy of top rankings on the domestic circuit.
Thames Rowing Club
Excellence, finesse, and determination embody what Thames Rowing Club brings to every rowing season. This Putney institution are never far from our collective minds when considering who will be challenging for honours in the summer months.
Their 2024 Henley Royal Regatta campaign concluded with two wins from three in the club events, a feat made all the more remarkable by the fact that they secured The Thames Challenge Cup despite losing by nearly ten seconds to fierce rivals from London Rowing Club two weeks prior.
2024/25 has started promisingly for Thames; scullers Owen Farmer and Andy Thomas won a Pairs Head pennant, whilst Mika Rya/Josh Braithwaite and Callum Williams/Phil Garnier finished within the top ten. A narrow loss to London at the Rememham Challenge a few weeks ago will have provided fuel for the fire as these athletes head into serious season.
It seems obvious that Thames should be considered one to watch, but their remarkable consistency and ability to produce winning boats across a range of categories highlight them as the programme that everyone else continually looks up to.
London Rowing Club
Round Two, anyone? The tussle between London and the aforementioned Thames on the Saturday of last year’s Henley Royal Regatta was one of the races of the week; two age-old rivals duking out it on the world-famous Henley straights. Thames emerged victorious and would go on to win the title, but London will return in 2025 with plenty of motivation to take back a crown they’ve had to watch their bitter nemeses hold aloft numerous times over the past decade.
Like their Putney neighbours, London have had an excellent start to the 2024/25 season, securing category wins at the Pairs Head and winning the championship eight and headship at the Rememham Challenge in December. Poor weather has starved us of opportunities to see London pitch up against Thames but hopefully 2025 will deliver a set of conditions that brings these two powerhouses together.
A word of warning, though. London were in a similar position this time last year, riding high after a set of promising head season results. That did not stop Thames from bulldozing through them when it mattered. The sting of that defeat will surely have taught Stu Heap and his charges a valuable lesson.
Royal Chester Rowing Club
Moving this perspective away from Thames-based clubs, focus can be put on one of the country’s top provincial clubs; Royal Chester Rowing Club.
Consistently performing well on their local circuit, the early stages of this season have not strayed from this standard. A strong performance at Head of the Dee saw victories for the men’s coxed and coxless fours, plus men’s eight. Royal Chester will endeavour to transfer this fighting spirit into the rest of this season.
Current holders of the Jackson Trophy at the Head of the River Race, their winter aim will be retaining this iconic piece of silverware. Their campaign at Henley Royal Regatta in 2024 was also a stand-out moment for the club, who came within metres of securing a historic win in The Britannia Challenge Cup. If that crew has returned in 2025, expect them to be making tracks in their efforts to win one of the biggest club prizes of them all.
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