International

BROOKES|Rowing success at Ratzeburg and Metropolitan Regatta’s

On a busy weekend for the entire group, Oxford Brookes students returned to Ratzeburg, Germany for the first time since 2018. The Brookes Men’s Eight took on top competition from several German U23 crews. Showing more promising speed Brookes convincingly won by over 10 seconds on both Saturday and Sunday despite challenging conditions making for tough racing. The Men’s Coxed Fours took home Gold and Silver on both days also taking victories over international competitors. The Men’s Coxless Four took Silver on the first day of racing behind the top U23 competition – they were victorious on Sunday after some changes to the German line ups. In perhaps one of

World Cup I: Belgrade, Serbia

Last weekend saw the first World Cup Regatta of the new Olympiad held in Belgrade, Serbia. Brookes were proudly represented by several athletes across the regatta. In the Coxless Fours, Morgan Bolding was a last-minute spare for the weekend; subbing in for Oli Wilkes who unfortunately tested positive for COVID. He joined Freddy Davidson to win Gold in a tight race with the Netherlands. With little time between races, Morgan jumped straight into Men’s Eight for their Final. Harry Brightmore coxed the Eight to a sizeable victory alongside Rory Gibbs, David Bewicke-Copley, Tom Digby. Josh Bugajski and Matt Aldridge also placed 6th in the Men’s Pair. Quentin Antognelli came 5thin the C-Final and

Ghent Regatta 2022 Report

After a hugely successful BUCs weekend, the athletes took to the Watersportbaan against some very strong competition from around Europe on a beautiful weekend in Belgium. Both Saturday and Sunday saw immense performances by the Women’s Squad. The highlight of the weekend was the 1st VIII setting a Ghent International Regatta course record against a strong Tideway Scullers crew. Despite bouncy conditions, the Brookes Women stormed down the track to set a time of 6:23.6. On Sunday, they managed to repeat their win against strong opposition – the second and third crews also put in strong performances, with both eights having great battles with two VIIIs from Nereus of the Netherlands, providing very

BUCs Regatta 2022 Report

The Brookes Women make history and the men go unbeaten in Championship Sweep categories in the first regatta of the season for the club. On Day 1, the men raced in Championship and Intermediate Eights. On a Spring Saturday, Brookes had two crews make the A Final. With a holding headwind, the Brookes 1st VIII were initially led at the 500m by the University of London. However, Brookes completely killed the race off through the middle 1000m. With a strong display of rowing, Brookes stretched their lead continuously to the line to win by 10 seconds. In an archetypal Brookes display of strength and depth – the Brookes 2nd VIII

Brookes Retain Headship

In the first running of the Head of the River since 2019, Brookes retained the headship for the fourth consecutive season with the biggest margin of victory for the last 7 years of 15.9 seconds. At the showcase event of the winter season, the results were the ultimate endorsement of the training program, coaching and loyalty of many hard-working athletes over several years. The 2nd VIII finished 3rd, matching their start number and final position in 2019. With a time just 1.4 seconds off a Brookes 1|2. This equalled the highest placing a Brookes 2nd VIII has ever achieved including some very talented young students. The 3rd VIII finished in

Fierce Racing on the Tideway

On an unseasonably and rare flat day on the Tideway, the Brookes Men’s squad had it’s long awaited clash against Oxford University this Sunday. It was the last part of the Fixtures Series in the build-up to the Boat Race. Each race included two pieces – from Putney to the Chiswick Steps, then restarting again at the Eyot, and finishing at the University Finish Post. Oxford Brookes vs Blue Boat Unlike the Cambridge fixture, two weeks prior, Brookes were reinforced with members from Caversham who jumped into the crew the day before. They were up against one of the strongest Oxford crews in recent memory with 5 Olympians on board.

WEHORR Report

Brookes Women equal best ever Women’s Head performance Four BROOKES|Rowing eights travelled to London on Sunday to compete in the first edition of Women’s Head of the River Race in Four years. With 275 crews racing it was set to be a great display of Women’s rowing on a blustery day. After a successful set of races as a part of the Fixture Series, the Brookes Women were eager to show their improvements so far this season. The Women’s 1st VIII, coxed by Harry Brightmore and also featuring Netherlands Rowing team member Tinka Offereins, started in 4th. With some exceptional rowing, Brookes were able to overtake Imperial College at Hammersmith

BROOKES|Rowing take on Oxford and Cambridge

The Brookes men’s squad returned to the Tideway this Sunday after a two year hiatus. On a massive day for the club, the biggest so far in the 2021-22 season, Brookes fielded two Eights against both Oxford Women, Cambridge Men and their reserve crews. With multiple Olympic athletes in the opposition it was set to be a huge test for the Brookes contingent. 1st VIII vs CUBC Cambridge won the toss and chose Middlesex for the first piece, which ran from the Boat Race start to the end of Chiswick Eyot. Brookes had a great start, with both crews being warned immediately. Around the outside of the first bend, Cambridge

CUWBC Fixture Report

Brookes Women kick off Fixture Series BROOKES|Rowing took three women’s eights to the Tideway on Sunday to face off against the Cambridge crews that will race in The Boat Races in a couple of months time. Due to the conditions, the racing included two pieces held between the Boat Race start in Putney and the Harrods Depositary. Brookes I vs. CUWBC Blue Boat The Brookes Women won the toss and chose the Surrey station. The Cambridge crew with Four Olympians took a slight lead off the start, then took a length lead on the inside of the bend around Fulham Football Club. Oxford Brookes then held the gap at one

GB Trials + Henley Fours & Eights

BROOKES|Rowing had a busy day of racing with the team split between racing at the second Senior GB Trial and on the extended race course at Henley Fours and Eights. In Boston, several of our athletes from Caversham were in racing action alongside our student athletes – all were looking to put down performances that could push them towards International representation later this season. There were many stand out performances – Brookes had six crews/composites in the Top 10 with Oli Wilkes backing up his win at the 1st Senior Trial with a 2nd place finish in the M2-. Promising results were also seen by several students competing for U23