Regional rowing round-up: September to December 2024

Another autumn, another host of races cancelled. From Fours Head to provincial races, we haven’t seen the top provincial crews race against each other in public since the big summer regattas. This makes reading the 2025 formbook very challenging. But, combining the limited results we do have with past form, I’m going to give my crews to watch for the new year.

West and South West

When you think of western provincial rowing, the mind inevitably falls upon City of Bristol. Jackson Trophy winners in 2022, both their men’s and women’s squads put in strong performances but faced tough draws at Henley last summer. Bristol’s strength in depth has been impressive over the last few years, though their speed this season is hard to predict as their performance squads haven’t been racing before Christmas, with no entries at the local University of Bristol Boat Club head race. 

Thames Valley and the South

While clubs in this region are not considered provincial by the definitions of the HoRR/WeHoRR, the Kentish clubs are eligible for these prizes. Of these Maidstone Invicta have been the strongest over the last few years, though once again there hasn’t been any open competitions featuring their senior squads this autumn, although an invitational head featuring Maidstone, Ardingly, and Bewl Bridge shows their squads have been getting the racing blood flowing.

East Anglia

The home of reigning women’s provincial champions Cantabrigian, the Anglian region is home to a very dense population of rowers. On the women’s side, one would still expect Cantabs to be the quickest crew, though a change in captaincy might bring a different approach and a change of personnel. Will new management be needed to take this squad from the standout provincial crew to potential Henley Winners competing more closely with Thames, London and Vesta? Only time will tell.

Cantabrigian’s mens crew have bounced back well from missing out on Henley qualification to beat all the college 8+s at the Fairbairn Cup, with wins at Pairs Head chalked up on the way. 

City of Cambridge are also under a new coaching set-up and, whilst their men’s squad has been clocking up the miles in Cambridge and Earith, it is difficult to read their form relative to other club crews. It will be interesting to see if this year, with a new head coach, they can buck that trend and climb the rankings in the Jackson.

After a solid summer season, Cambridge ‘99 RC have kept their cards close to their chest. I suppose we will have to await the annual Cambridge Rowing Association’s Winter League races before we can truly determine who is ‘Top Dog’ on the Cam this season. 

Central

This region has been one of the most exciting to watch over the last few years. The principal story here has been the rise of Derby rowing club to become one of the most competitive provincial squads this summer, especially on the men’s side, being the only 8+ to make it through a round at HRR.

2023 WeHoRR provincial pennant winners Nottingham had a quieter season last year, eliminated in the first round of the COPAS cup and missing out on HRR qualification, though given how cyclical provincial rowing tends to be, I expect them to come back fighting this year. On the men’s side, Nottingham remain the most recent provincial Henley Winners and had a strong 4+ last year. They could well be ones to watch again come the summer racing season.

A crew to watch for the spring is Hereford rowing club, whose men’s 8+ put in a strong performance at UBBC Head, beating two (presumably scratch) crews from Nonesuch (West and Westcountry) who have made themselves a regular Thames Cup feature at Henley in the last few years.

Yorkshire

Yorkshire rowing has been largely dormant for the last few years, so far as later stage HRR appearances is concerned. No crew from this region managed to qualify in the summer just gone. Arguably, the biggest story here is the reformation of a senior men’s squad at York City Rowing Club. Britannia cup winners within living memory, an influx of good quality athletes and the emergence of BIRC 30-39 Champion Ben Stephens are promising signs of good things to come from this squad

North East

Tyne Amateur rowing club are long established as the frontrunners in this region. Henley semi-finalists in both men’s and women’s events in recent years, they appear to have started the season strong with solid performances at their local Rutherford head. Although none of the larger provincial clubs made the journey north to race Tyne, their performance against the stronger northern universities was as strong as we have come to expect from this squad over the last few years. 

North West

The North-West of England is unique in some aspects, as it is the only region outside the Thames valley with multiple Henley Weekend appearances in the last 5 years, with Royal Chester, Agecroft, and Northwich all gracing the Saturday programme in the last few years. Also uniquely for this season, two of these clubs have actually raced each other!

That’s right! Royal Chester and Northwich have raced each other at two events. Northwich appear to have established a sculling superiority, with wins on the Dee at Chester LDS and on the Weaver at Northwich Head, albeit the top Royal’s crew was disqualified for a rule infringement on the latter occasion. However, with one blade in hand Royal Chester have started the season very strongly with a 1-2 in matched 8+s at Dee Autumn Head and then putting two 4+s in front of Northwich at the latter’s own head race. It seems the entire four of Britannia Challenge Cup runners up have returned, and the squad appears to have been bolstered with the remnants of Grosvenor rowing clubs performance squad, which has dissolved. It’d take a brave man to bet against them heading into the latter part of this head season. 

On the women’s side, an order is slightly easier to establish. Royal Chester were victorious at Dee Autumn Head, beating Liverpool University who themselves had been victorious over Agecroft earlier in the month on the Salford Quays. It will be interesting to see if this order stays the same as the season progresses

Predictions

I do hope we get fewer disruptions to the spring racing season, if anything as it’ll help the form book be easier to read. As far as my early calls for the provincial trophies are concerned, I believe both the Provincial Pennant and Jackson Trophy will remain with their current holders at Cantabrigian and Royal Chester respectively, though I’d never write off Tyne, Bristol, or Agecroft’s ability to pull off a surprise result when the crews from the shires head to the big smoke in March. 

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