Success at The Metropolitan Regatta
BROOKES|Rowing put on a display not only on the International stage this weekend but also in the largest domestic race since the COVID-19 pandemic paused events and competition back in 2020. After 461 days since their last race in an VIII, Brookes fielded a strong contingent of athletes at The Metropolitan Regatta on the Dorney Lake Olympic course for a busy two days of racing. On Saturday, the Brookes Women dominated the Time Trial to qualify two VIIIs in the A Final. With an incredible standard of racing by all, less than a second separated half of the field during the Championship W8+ final. After a strong 3rd500m, the Brookes
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
Brookes takes 4th at Head of the Charles
Oxford Brookes Men’s 1st VIII charged from 24th place to 4th place at this weekend’s Head of the Charles Regatta. Cox Harry Brightmore was kept on his toes at all times whilst overtaking crews from Princeton, Penn and Cornell. This has been a great experience and a big learning curve for all the crew who hope to be able to return next year in a more competitive starting position. The race, the largest regatta in the world, took place between Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts. The crew were in fifth place through the first two timing points at Riverside Boat Club and Weld Boathouse, but the fastest last two minutes of
Head of the Charles preview
This weekend our Men’s 1st VIII will compete in the Head of the Charles Regatta for the first time since 2004, when they finished in 4th place in Championship Eights. The crew faces senior international crews from the USA, Netherlands, Germany and Italy in addition to many US College rivals and also challenges from the UK in the form of Cambridge University, who won the 2004 race. The crew are all returners from last year’s Henley Royal Regatta winning Ladies Plate and Temple Cup crews, and half of the crew represented Great Britain at the recent SH Netz Cup in Germany where they finished in third place. Read more here.
Summer International Roundup
BROOKES|Rowing athletes saw considerable success when racing internationally this summer, following the culmination of the university rowing calendar at Henley in July. Six athletes raced at the Senior World Championships, which took place in Linz, Austria. Rory Gibbs, in his first season as part of the GB Rowing senior team, won a bronze medal as part of the coxless four, following a tough battle with Romania throughout. This qualified the boat for next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo. In the men’s eight, Mat Tarrant and Josh Bugajski claimed a bronze medal, also qualifying the boat for the Olympics. Morgan Bolding and pairs partner Tom Jeffrey came agonisingly close- eventually finishing
Duisburg Regatta Report
BROOKES|Rowing travelled to Duisburg in Germany this weekend for the 2019 International Wedau Regatta. Following a dominant display at BUCS Regatta the previous weekend, greater challenges awaited with a number of senior international crews racing at their first regatta of the season. This included World Record holders and current World Champions Germany- who headed a strong field in the Men’s Eights event. Saturday’s racing saw three Brookes crews feature in the final of the Men’s eights- where strong cross-headwind conditions resulted in the lanes being seeded. Brookes finished in 3rd, 4th and 6th place- the 1st 8 six seconds behind Germany and one behind Leander. The women’s eights had a
FISU World University Championships Report
It was a successful weekend for BROOKES|Rowing athletes, where 10 athletes raced at the World University Championships (FISU) which took place in Shanghai, China. The Men’s Eight, consisting of Harry Brightmore, Henry Swarbrick, Michael Glover and Matt Hnatiw faced competition from the USA, Poland, Italy, China and the Netherlands. They won the race for lanes and replicated that race in the final, leading from start to finish in a time of 5:38 to win the gold medal. The Men’s Four included Rory Gibbs and Morgan Bolding. They were joined by Matt Benstead and Oli Wilkes, the latter of whom raced in the Ladies Plate as part of a Brookes/Edinburgh composite
U23 World Championships Report
There were a number of notable performances by BROOKES|Rowing athletes at last week’s U23 World Championships, held in Poznan, Poland. Of the 8 medals won by GB crews, 3 involved current athletes, with a further 4 athletes racing in A finals. In the Men’s coxless fours, Sam Nunn raced in the 2 seat partnered by David Ambler, Charlie Elwes and Felix Drinkall. The crew finished in a time of 5:52.74, pipping New Zealand to a silver medal by just 0.07 seconds. Matthew Aldridge, racing at his third and final U23 Championships, improved on his bronze medal in the eight at last years championships with a thrilling finish to claim a
Success at Ratzeburg Regatta
BROOKES|Rowing returned to Ratzeburg Regatta for the first time since 2014, and did so in style- putting three men’s eights ahead of the German and Polish U23 crews on both days. On Saturday, the 1st VIII finished in a new club record time of 5:29.06. The Temple Eight finished second in 5:33 with the third placed eight finishing in 5:35. They repeated this order on Sunday, though conditions were slower. The men’s coxed four also faced competition from German U23 crews. On Saturday they won in a time of 6:20.48, and on Sunday finished third. The women’s quad beat crews from Poland and Germany to second place behind a composite
Fastest Four Times in Club History
On the Saturday of Ghent Regatta Henry Swarbrick, Morgan Bolding, Rory Gibbs and Oliver Wilkes won the men’s coxless fours by 0.32 seconds. On Sunday, the new combination of Ed Grisedale, Quentin Antognelli, Henry Swarbrick and Oliver Wilkes rowed a sensational race to cross the line 2.49 seconds in front in a time of 5:53.31. This is believed to be the fastest time ever rowed by a British coxless four outside of the national team, also breaking the Ghent course record by 11 seconds. The men’s eights finished with a 1-2 on both days. On Sunday, the 1st 8 set a new all time club record and broke the Ghent
