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This weekend, 27 BROOKES|Rowing athletes raced over two days at the GB Rowing Senior, U23 and FISU Final Trials at Caversham. The crews were treated to great conditions which made for some tight racing throughout the weekend. The time trials and semi-finals were raced on Saturday, with the finals taking place on Sunday morning. Morgan Bolding & Rory Gibbs, who raced in the winning Men’s 1st VIII at the recent Head of the River Race, came away with 2nd in the M2-. Tom Digby, partnered by James Rudkin came 3rd. Oli Wilkes placed 4th with his partner Jacob Dawson. Matthew Aldridge 5th with his partner Sholto Carnegie. Sam Bannister and

Last weekend Brookes competed in the San Diego Crew Classic in the USA with both the men’s and women’s first VIIIs. This was undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges that Oxford Brookes would face in its history and a phenomenal opportunity to compete against some of the fastest crews in the United States on their home waters. The men, competing in the Copley Cup Invitational, raced in a three-way dual on both days at the weekend between the Canadian National Team and California Berkley. On the Saturday, Brookes started second best to a powerful Californian crew who stretched their lead to ¾ length by halfway. Brookes clawing their way back

On Saturday night, the Oxford Brookes annual dinner took place in Phyllis Court, Henley-on-Thames. It was cohosted by Taurus – OBUBCs alumni. A great evening was had by all, celebrating the last years success of the boat club. Particularly the meteoric rise of the women’s team and last seasons success at Henley Royal Regatta. Around 160 current and ex-Brookes rowers attended the event, in regatta dress. The event took place after the Head of the River, which happened earlier in the day, where Brookes broke a course record that had previously stood since 1987. This crew was coxed by Harry Brightmore, who became Senior World Champion last year in the British National VIII. Harry

Last Saturday saw the last Winter Head race of the season on the Tideway, the Head of the River Race, held between Mortlake and Putney. Brookes fielded eight VIIIs for the first time in history. The Brookes 1st VIII was made up of members of the British National team, the majority of whom became Senior World Champions last season. This crew was chased fiercely by an equally talented Leander crew, in a match up that could barely be separated the whole way down the track in a race of the highest calibre. Conditions were not of the fastest nature, however, the reason why both finished significantly inside the previous record

Yesterday saw the last of the fixtures take place on the Tideway with the Brookes women taking on Oxford in the local derby. There were some challenging conditions for all to deal with across all racing. In Blue boat fixture, just one piece was rowed between the start line in Putney and the Red Buoy at the crossing point above Chiswick Eyot. In a heated race start, in initially calm conditions, crews clashed while both being warned to remain on station. Brookes, with the Middlesex station, were able to inch ahead around the first bend and break clear water by the Mile Post. Rowing in tricky conditions around the Hammersmith

Cambridge Men’s Fixture After a strong result against Oxford last week, Brookes were aiming to take a clean sweep in the last of the fixtures against Cambridge this weekend. Racing took place with the Blue Boat, Goldie and the Cambridge Lightweights over two pieces – from Putney to the Eyot, restarting again at the Eyot and finishing at University Finish Post in Chiswick. In the first piece against the Blue Boat, both crews started strongly with Cambridge racing out to a ¼ length lead by the end of Putney Embankment. In conditions that posed some risk, Brookes on the Middlesex Station rowed hard and clean and were able to inch

Women’s Head Report Brookes took five eights to the Women’s Head of the River over the weekend. With an entry of 299 crews it was set to be the first real test of where the Brookes Women ranked alongside the best crews in the UK this season. After a strong placing in last years race, the 1st VIII had a superb opportunity to set off No. 2 chasing Leander ‘A’. Having had such a successful winter to date, every athlete was eager to show off their hard work so far this season. With some high class rowing the whole way down the course, the 1st VIII were able to take 3rd place finish overall.

On Saturday Brookes took to the Tideway and Reading University Head. OBUBC raced Oxford, in a local derby and the first fixture for the men this season. Both crews raced their respective Blue Boat and Isis counterparts over two pieces – from Putney to the Eyot, then restarting again at the Eyot, and finishing at the University Finish Post by Chiswick Bridge. In both races, Brookes won the toss and chose the Middlesex station. In the Blue boat fixture, there was an initial fight for control over the stream, however, after some clean, composed rowing in tricky conditions Brookes continued to edge away throughout the first piece to win by 3 lengths. For the

Over the weekend Brookes had a large day of racing at the Great Britain Senior and U23 trials in Boston, Lincolnshire and Henley Fours and Eights. In Boston, some great results were produced by both members of senior national team, as well as current athletes in the Brookes program. After a fantastic result in November, Matt Heywood and Jack Prior backed up their performance with a 5th place against some of the best athletes in the country. David Bewicke-Copley and Morgan Bolding were 2nd and Tom Digby and David Ambler were 4th. Grace Richards and Rhianna Sumpter were the fastest U23 W2- and Olivia White was the 3rd fastest U23

Brookes retain Headship on home water at Wallingford Head Brookes competed in the first race of the season in eights at the weekend. Unfortunately, racing was restricted to one division after the river changed to red boards during the first division. In the first division, Brookes entered seven men’s VIIIs, a M4+, two women’s U23 VIIIs, three women’s coxed & two coxless fours. Racing against strong competition from Leander and Thames, the Brookes 1st VIII, expertly steered by Harry Brightmore came out on top on their home water by a margin of 4 seconds. The 2nd Brookes VIII claimed third place after a penalty for the Leander 2nd eight. The