British Athletes rule the waves at NCAA and IRA National Championship Regattas

British athletes top the rankings as the US collegiate season reaches its crescendo at the NCAAs on Lake Mercer and the IRA national championship regatta on Cooper River

11 British rowers won medals across the Varsity Eight Grand Finals of the NCAA and IRA National Championship Regattas in the United States of America

In total, 16 women and 21 men finished in the top 12 of the Varsity Eights, more than any other country other than the United States.

For Yale University, 2025 was an NCAAs for the ages. The Bulldogs won their first Varsity Eight title since 2010 and Harriet Drake-Lee was a key part of Yale’s engine room that jumped out to an early lead over the chasing pack. Despite late charges from Texas and Stanford, Yale would hold on to take the win, a performance that helped them place second in the team standings for the first time since 2004.

Before Yale, Harriet rowed for Peterborough City Rowing Club, winning the Raynor Cup for junior doubles at Henley Women’s Regatta before winning gold for England at the Home International Regatta. Last summer, after spending her season in the Varsity Eight that won a bronze medal at the Ivy League championships, Harriet represented Great Britain at the U23 World Championships winning gold in the women’s eight.

There was huge success for Sam Ford who helped the Washington Huskies win their 21st title in the Varsity Eight. Sam, who previously won the Thames Challenge Cup with Molesey has spent the past two years in the Huskies’ top boat which has seen him win back-to-back national titles.

In the USA, women’s collegiate rowing falls under jurisdiction of the NCAA while men’s collegiate rowing is governed by the Intercollegiate Rowing Association. At division 1 level, a Varsity Eight, 2nd Varsity Eight, and a Varsity Four will race at the NCAAs. Nine teams qualified automatically while 13 other ‘at large’ bids were awarded to the other top performing programmes based on results during the season. For the men, there are 24 spots available for for each 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Varsity Eight. All 64 programmes who are members of the IRA can enter the Varsity Four competition. Lightweight men and women will also race at the IRA national championship regatta.

Throughout the regular season, the Stanford Cardinals were untouchable. They went undefeated in all their duels and won the ACC Championship. They’re only defeat of the season came in Sunday’s Grand Final at the hands of Yale. Alice Baker, who was crowned U23 World Champion alongside Harriet last summer sat at three in Stanford’s top boat just ahead of Kingston Grammar School alumni Matilda Drewett. Having just finished her second season, Matilda has been a rising star in the GB junior rankings, having won gold medals at the 2023 Munich International Regatta before racing at the U19 World Championships twice, including a gold medal in the quad back in 2023.

Over recent seasons, Harvard University has benefited greatly from British talent. Last season, their Lightweight Varsity Eight won its first IRA national championship since 2013, and this year, the crew went undefeated to win a second championship in a row. Crucial to both of those successes were former KCS Wimbledon rowers Ben Lundie and Alex Forbes who helped the Crimson clock a 05:29.62 in New Jersey last weekend, the first time a lightweight crew has ever broken 5:30 at a national championship regatta.

Speaking of the Crimson, their Heavyweight men won a spectacular silver medal with a boat containing five Brits. Gabriel Obholzer (Tideway Scullers), Josh Brangan (St Edwards), Cameron Beyki (Reading Blue Coat School), Alexander Grundy (Eton), and  Tom O’Sullivan (St Pauls). Harvard finished 0.15s ahead of Alex Oliver and his Dartmouth crew, winning Big Green’s first medal in the event since 2021.

Texas rounded out the podium at the NCAAs and first across the line for the Longhorns was Abigail Dawson, formerly of Lea Rowing Club. A bronze medallist in championship single sculls at the 2021 National Schools’ Regatta, Abigail has also won multiple medals at the British Rowing Junior Championships as well as topping the podium at the 2019 British Rowing Junior Championships. Her success has also taken her to last year’s World Championships and was another member of the victorious women’s eight.

Many of these athletes who choose to study in the United States will now return to race back in Britain over the summer period joining up with clubs ahead of events such as Henley Royal Regatta and Henley Women’s Regatta. Lots of them will be eying up British vests this summer at the U23 World Championships in Poznan, Poland.

Statistics curtesy of Dan Spring.