As the nights draw in, the role of the cox becomes increasingly important. Throughout the head racing season, they will be tasked with navigating complex courses and a flotilla of boats ahead and behind them. Combine that with the mandate of incentivising a flagging crew through the backbone of a long and winding race and the challenge becomes evident.
Ben Knight, Hampton School
An exceptional cox produced by Hampton, Ben Knight has already had some great success, coxing the first eight as a 16-year-old to couple up with two Henley appearances and a GB France vest. It is clear that he is a cox with many accolades and is clearly going to be an exciting prospect this year as we head into the 24/25 season. With Hampton emerging as one of the squads to watch, particularly with the recent addition of Josh Butler to the team plus a promising Henley Royal Regatta showing against semi-finalists Radley College, it will be fascinating to see what Ben is capable of.
Jonas Yu, KCS Wimbledon
As part of one of the most robust J16 cohorts KCS has ever seen, Jonas Yu is a highly decorated cox and will be looking to make his mark in the championship events this year. With medals from both the Schools’ Head of the River and the National Schools’ Regatta, as well as experience on arguably the most challenging course in the world – the Charles – he comes into the 24/25 season with lots of momentum and will be chomping at the bit to prove that he is a cox capable of steering his boat to glory.
Zac Shepherd, Radley College
Yet another J16 cox looking to break into the championship events, Zac Shepherd, like the other steersmen and women, is a driver with many titles. He won the National Schools’ Regatta in 2024 and secured an international victory against France during the summer. He also managed a fifth-placed finish at the Schools’ Head of the River, which is no mean feat. However, he will want to improve this, particularly given he’s steering an almost entirely new crew this year with only one returner from last season’s first eight.
Sarah Armstrong, Royal Chester RC
The cox with the most experience in this bucket, Sarah Armstrong, has been coxing and rowing since 1994 and has had a very successful rowing career, winning the Jackson Trophy at the Head of the River Race in 2023 and 2024 with Royal Chester Rowing Club. This year’s Henley Royal Regatta campaign was her most profitable, steering her crew from outside the Thames Valley to a final in The Britannia Challenge Cup. Sarah and her crew will likely be looking to continue, if not further, the success they have had this season
Sashank Viswanathan Prema, Newcastle University
Sashank is a very impressive cox with numerous Henley Royal Regatta campaigns to his name, even undertaking two different campaigns simultaneously in 2023, coxing both the Newcastle men’s and women’s first eights. This year, the success of his crew was highly pronounced with BUCS medals, a Henley Royal Regatta final and a bronze medal at the Women’s Head of the River Race. He wants to go one step further this year and beat the titans of Oxford Brookes on the Sunday of Henley.
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