Our programme’s aim is to produce outstanding rowers and athletes capable of winning at the highest levels. BROOKES|Rowing prides itself on giving you the most enjoyable and successful university rowing experience in the world.
Oxford Brookes has an outstanding combination of high-performance rowing and vocational degree study in the UK. It has been named as one of the top 50 young universities in the world by the QS World University Rankings 2020- and is the only UK university to make the list.
Rory Gibbs had this to say about OBUBC:
I joined Oxford Brookes University Boat Club in 2012 with minimal rowing experience and a 2k time of 6:43. Fast forward seven seasons, and after earning both a first-class degree and a master’s, I found myself breaking into the Great British senior team with a time of 5:53, equipped with the skills to move a boat fast.
At OBUBC, you will find your limits if you are willing to push yourself. The club doesn’t just elevate your physiology and boat skills to an international level; it teaches you the importance of teamwork with your coaches and crewmates. It cultivates a mindset that drives success beyond the sport. I owe a great deal to Oxford brookes University, Henry Bailhache-webb, and my teammates for their invaluable support throughout my journey.
Starting as a skinny fresher, I balanced training with my academics and a social life and gradually became more committed to the sport. My time at the club culminated in three HRR wins and two GB U23 vests. Since joining the national team, I have won three more Henley Royal Regatta titles, two world championship titles, five European championships, and an Olympic gold medal.
If you’re eager to explore your potential and discover what you’re truly capable of in rowing, there’s no better place than OBUBC. I genuinely believe it’s the strongest rowing program in the world, and I feel fortunate to have been a part of it.
Rory won three Henley events and earned 2 U23 vests while at Brookes and went on to win a Gold medal in the GB M8+ at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Matthew Tarrant had this to say about OBUBC:
I joined Oxford Brookes University in 2009, after winning my first international medal as a junior. I made the decision that one day, I wanted to compete at an Olympic Games – Oxford Brookes had already created champions of the sport, and I wanted to become one of them. Oxford Brookes has the perfect balance between training hard and studying hard to achieve a degree for after your sporting life. During my time at Brookes, I matured both mentally and physically, planting secure foundations on which my successful Senior career has been built upon. I will always have fond memories of my time there, and it’s an honour to still represent the club
Matthew won the Prince Albert Challenge Cup in his first year at Brookes, and has since gone on to become World Champion in the U23 M2- in 2012, M8+ in 2014 and the M2+ in 2015. He won a bronze medal in the M8+ in 2019.
Olivia Carnegie-Brown talks about the women’s squad:
The atmosphere and winning mentality at Oxford Brookes Boat Club brings us together and raises the level of performance. Brookes taught me how to race hard, and made me the dogged athlete I am today. The development of the women’s squad has been outstanding – now with a dedicated coach, the participation levels have increased to three competing 8’s, raising the quality and determination amongst the girls, as recently shown by the Bronze medal in the W8+ at the British Championships
Olivia joined Brookes after winning silver in the JW4- at the 2009 Junior World Rowing Championships, and won a silver medal with the GB Senior Women’s 8+ at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Oxford Brookes helped Peter Chambers to where he is now:
Oxford Brookes is the best rowing university in the UK, if not one of the best in the world, producing World and Olympic medalists. The training there is like nowhere else, with the best facilities and technology to make all those small marginal gains possible. Oxford Brookes provided me with the platform to push my rowing career right to the top
Peter was a full-time member of the GB Rowing senior team, and is an Olympic silver medallist in the LM4- at London 2012
Scott Durant is a long-time member of the Club:
Oxford Brookes is without doubt one of the top rowing programs in the world, with athletes winning World and Olympic medals. The facilities and coaching are second to none, and the squad attitude and culture brings out the best in the students. Oxford Brookes made me realise my potential to row at the highest level. In the 10 years that I have been a member of the club, the standard has moved on to another level and continues to go from strength to strength
Scott has multiple U23 and World Championship medals to his name, but most notably a gold medal in the GB men’s 8+ at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Joel Cassells came from Ireland to study at Brookes:
Coming to Brookes was the best decision I ever made. Brookes is a top class university squad – the training is brutally competitive but enormously fun. I loved every second of being a university rower, especially racing at such high-quality events. One of my highlights was racing the German Olympic eight at Duisburg Regatta – you don’t get opportunities like that at any other university. I would have never imagined that, within 3 years, I’d have several International medals, a Henley title, and end up in the GB Senior team. Brookes is the established conveyor belt of top athletes to the GB Rowing Team
Since joining Brookes, Joel has gone on to become a multiple U23 silver medallist in LM4- and LM4x, and LM2- Senior European & World Champion in 2015
Jamie Copus followed the smell of success:
I owe a huge amount to Brookes Rowing. The programme is the best in the country – it has given me the physical jump and mental resilience to be a Senior international. But above all, the camaraderie is unlike any other. At Brookes, you’re a family. A family with a winning tradition
Jamie won the 2014 Temple Challenge Cup together in his first year. He went on to win a silver medal at the U23 World Championships that year. Jamie raced in the LM2x at the 2019 World Championships.
Oxford Brookes University Boat Club’s High Performance Programme is recognised and supported by British Rowing, and funded through the National Lottery.
BROOKES|Rowing has a track record of coaching athletes to challenge for a place in the GB Rowing national team, and is committed to British Rowing’s World Class Performance Strategy.
