It is now 2025, and at the turn of the new year, JRN is reviewing the crews we expect to bring the heat to this new year full of competition and talent. The categories that consistently bring out the best in what British Rowing offers can be found in the student men’s area—which never disappoints.
Glasgow University Boat Club – Men’s Quad
One of two Scottish crews on this list, Glasgow University BC’s men’s quad has experienced tremendous success in the last season and across each member’s rowing experience. The crew, consisting of Waddell, Hughson, Gorrie and Beeson, will be hoping to add to their medal count at home on the River Clyde. Waddell has represented Scotland at both Beach Sprints and the Home International Regatta, and his fellow crewmate Hughson was a member of the eight that took home gold for Scotland at the latter event last summer. Beeson has long been prominent on the Scottish and broader UK scene, with ample experience gained at both GUBC and his home club of ASRA; he has multiple National Schools’ Regatta victories behind him.
Under the coaching of Chris Rae, the club has embarked on a more intense performance program and has seen greater success as a result. In addition, this GUBC crew recorded the fastest time of the weekend at Inverness Head in November of 2024 and also had an impressive finish at Rutherford 2024 in the coxless four, showing how dynamic they can be across both sweep and scull.
If the crew from the Clyde can maintain their sustained improvement over this coming season, they could potentially secure a successful year – we’ll just need to wait and see.
Durham University Boat Club – Men’s Coxless/Coxed Four
Established as one of the strongest clubs north of the Thames, Durham University BC has recently had one of its most successful seasons, with many strong performances at Henley Royal Regatta, a rapid Head of the River Race and many wins at Rutherford Head in November. Perhaps the most promising of all their men’s crews is their coxless four.
Led by Hanks, Durham’s men’s coxless four achieved a narrow win at Rutherford Head in 2024, with a time of 15:39.9. Additionally, the crew raced well at Henley Royal Regatta, getting to the quarterfinals after decent performances for the club’s eights at both BUCS and HoRR.
The club’s top squads are consistently improving, and DUBC is going to every length to ensure their athletes are the best they can be, with the club currently at Lago de Banyoles in Catalonia on an intensive training camp. With the combination of the careful tutelage of Head Coach Will Fletcher, mixed with the immense power and capability of DUBC’s men, their choice in the summer will be an interesting one; will they opt to prioritise the coxed four and have a crack at The Prince Albert Challenge Cup or stick it out in the Brookes badlands that The Temple Challenge Cup has become?
Edinburgh University Boat Club – Men’s Eight
Scotland’s largest performance programme consistently delivers first-class crews and shows no sign of letting up. Over the past year, Edinburgh University BC has cut down its primary squad, ensuring all members are of the highest standards. As a result, the club has yet to settle on a concrete ‘A’ men’s eight. Despite this, the EUBC men’s eight is going to be at the forefront of student racing across the UK, regardless of its composition.
So far this season, the EUBC eights have produced strong finishes at Rutherford Head, winning the open eight led by Howie with a rapid time of 13:21, with the second eight at Rutherford led by Plank achieving a second strong finish for the club with a time of 14:12.8. Additionally, at Inverness Head in November, the fours entered by EUBC which make up the eventual eights conquered the entire podium in the open coxless fours event. The club will have their sights first set on the Head of the River Race this year, where they will hope to improve upon their third-place finish last year.
Following an epic season for the Edinburgh men, the squad will seek to continue expanding their successes in 2025. Under the tutelage of coaches like Dale Flockhart and Colin Williamson, the club’s success seems all but inevitable, spearheaded by the flagship men’s eight.
Review
This coming regatta season will see some of the fastest boats in British rowing history. These three named crews are only a few of the men’s student crews worth keeping a close eye on in 2025, but in this powerhouse category of rowing, we are sure to see new profiles and protaganists triumph in the year ahead – and I for one look forward to it all.
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