Articles

Brookes Athletes on the World Stage

The performances this weekend at World Cup III in Sabaudia, Italy was a true testament to the strength, depth and development of the group of athletes who are a part of the Olympic Pathway Program (OPP) at BROOKES|Rowing. For all involved it was their first Senior International competition and several prospective Olympic Crews were to attend the Regatta. Men’s Coxless Four – GBR 1Sam NunnSam BannisterMatt AldridgeDavid Ambler Men’s Coxless Four – GBR 2Lenny JenkinsMatt RoweDavid Bewicke-CopleyFreddy Davidson Harry Brightmore – Coach Women’s Coxless Four – GBREsme BoothDaisy Bellamy Lauren Irwin (Leander)Hope Cessford (Leander) After being granted Elite Athlete Exemption earlier in the year, a group of 15 athletes from both

Stand Out Performances at the British Rowing Open Trials

Sophia Heath and Lettie Cabot were the top performers in the W2- at the Open Trials at Caversham yesterday afternoon. Racing was moved due to an unpredictable forecast to the Saturday after being initially scheduled for both days over the weekend. After setting the pace in the time trial earlier in the day, Heath and Cabot were in contention with the rest of the field until halfway, but eventually went on to win the trial with a dominant display. The Men’s squad had several positive results from members of both the Olympic Pathway and Student Programmes. Henry Blois-Brooke and Quentin Antognelli claimed 2ndposition with Michael Glover and Oscar Lindsay in

BROOKES|Rowing: A Head of the River history

One of the most staggering improvements since the boat club’s foundations are the results that have been witnessed at the Head of the River race. BROOKES|Rowing have now held the Headship since 2016 and in the last two races have placed three crews inside the Top 10. What is clear, is the spirit of the club remains the same from top to bottom. Everyone gives their best and it shows with the 4-6th eights inside the Top 20 and with the 7th eight coming a respectable 53rd in 2019. What is equally exciting for the future of Oxford Brookes University Boat Club is the development of the women’s squad and

Gibbs wins Olympic Trials

In only his second season as part of the GB Rowing Senior Team, Rory Gibbs today won the final set of trials before the Tokyo Olympic Games in four months. Gibbs, partnered by Matt Rossiter who he won bronze with at last year’s World Rowing Championships, rowed through the field to take the win ahead of a strong field of World and Olympic medallists all attempting to stake their claim for seats in the Olympic Team. Twelve pairs were entered into the trials, which consisted of a time trial on Friday evening, followed by today’s semi-finals and finals. Of these twelve, there were six Brookes athletes racing- more athletes than

Cambridge Fixture Report

The Brookes men’s squad were glad to return to calmer conditions on the Tideway this Sunday, following a challenging conditions against the University of Oxford the previous weekend. Brookes fielded two eights against the Cambridge University and Goldie, their reserve crew. Brookes III and IV raced against Thames I and II in a warmup fixture for the Eights Head of the River in three weeks time. 1st VIII vs CUBC Brookes won the coin toss and chose the Surrey station for the first piece, which ran from the Boat Race start to Chiswick Steps. Brookes had the better start, gaining a couple of seats as the crews passed the town

Brookes complete Boat Race double for first time ever

Following an impressive performance last week against the Cambridge Blue Boat and Blondie, the BROOKES|Rowing women’s squad returned to the Tideway on Sunday to test their speed against their local rivals at the University of Oxford. The race had been scheduled to take place on Saturday, but difficult conditions meant the race was postponed. 1st VIII vs OUWBC The 1st VIII, facing the Oxford Blue Boat, won the toss and chose to row on the Surrey station for the first piece, which was an eight minute piece from the Boat Race start. Both crews got out well and were close through the initial stages of the race. Passing Barn Elms,

CUWBC Fixture Report

Following the men’s fixture with Oxford the day before, BROOKES|Rowing took three women’s eights to the Tideway on Sunday to face off against the Cambridge crews that will race in next month’s Boat Race. The fixture was held in the direction of the Women’s Head of the River race. For all 3 boats the first race started at Chiswick bridge and ran to Chiswick steps. The second race was from Chiswick Steps to the Black buoy in Putney. Brookes I vs. CUWBC Blue Boat The Cambridge Blue Boat won the toss and choose the Surrey station. The Oxford Brookes crew got the faster start, and within 2 minutes had a

OUBC Fixture Report

This Saturday saw the first day in a bumper fortnight of fixtures between BROOKES|Rowing, the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race crews and other local opposition. This acts as invaluable racing experience ahead of the upcoming Tideway Heads of the River. Brookes I vs. OUBC Blue Boat The 1st VIII raced against the Oxford Blue Boat which will race in the Boat Race in a few weeks.  The fixture consisted of two pieces from the Boat Race start to St. Paul’s.  The overriding factor in both OUBC fixtures was the river conditions, where the incoming tide was met with a strong westerly wind causing very rough water both at the start

Boat Race Fixtures Confirmed

BROOKES|Rowing have confirmed details of the upcoming Boat Races Fixtures. These act as a warmup for the Oxford and Cambridge crews for the Boat Race, which takes place on 29th March. They also give Brookes crews invaluable Tideway experience ahead of the Women’s Eights Head of the River Race on 7th March and the Head of the River Race on 21st March. Fixture dates are as follows: 22nd February 10:30 Brookes IV vs. St. Pauls11:00 Brookes III vs. Molesey 11:30 Brookes II vs. Isis (OUBC Reserves)12:00 Brookes I vs. Oxford Men’s Blue Boat 23rd February 1240 Brookes III vs. CUWBC Lightweights1255 Brookes II vs. Blondie (CUWBC Reserves)1310 Brookes I

Carla Devlin to speak at this year’s Taurus Dinner

We are delighted to announce that Carla Devlin (née Ashford) will be speaking at this year’s Taurus Dinner, which takes place at Phyllis Court on 21 March. Carla rowed at Brookes from 1998-2004 and represented Great Britain at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Carla took part in the latest series of SAS: Who Dares Wins and made it to the final 4 recruits, with the final episode airing yesterday (11th February). We chatted to Carla about learning to row at Brookes, her favourite races, making it onto the squad and what got her through the physical and mental tests that were thrown at her during her time on the