Tideway Scullers School win the Victor Ludorum at the British Rowing Masters Championships

Bradford on Avon Rowing Club and London Rowing Club took home the prizes for top small and large club after a community and competition-filled day of racing

Sunday, 14 June 2026 started with better conditions than yesterday’s racing at Holme Pierrepont Country Park in Nottingham. Kicking off racing on the dot at 8:30am were Eliminators for the Open Coxless Fours, where Monmouth Rowing Club quickly bagged two qualification spots.

Last year the Open D Eights medals were separated by only 0.3 seconds – previous bronze medallists Minerva Bath Rowing Club won this year’s Eliminator 2 ahead of last year’s gold medallists from Kingston Rowing Club. A Cambridge composite from City of Cambridge, 1st and 3rd Trinity and Rob Roy Boat Clubs won Eliminator 1, with Marlow Rowing Club 0.25 seconds behind.

In the 2026 final, it was Marlow, Cambridge and Minerva crossing the line in order for the medals, holding their positions from start to finish, with Minerva returning last year’s bronze. Captain Jo Virr said:  “We were so excited to have a bit of a rematch from last year! Tough competition today but we’re really pleased with our race. Especially as we were 20 seconds faster than last year!”

The first final over the line on Sunday was the Women’s E Eights, where Broxbourne Rowing Club took gold ahead of Monmouth Rowing Club and York City Boat Club. A few races later, Sabrina Rowing Club (Shrewsbury School’s alumni club) won gold in the Open C Eights.

James Russell spoke to us across the line. “One of our crew, Athol Hundermark is the Director of Rowing at Shrewsbury School, and is leaving the school at the end of the year, along with Ross La Maitre, who is also in our crew.  This is a real bittersweet moment for all of us.” The crew won in a time of 03:09.39 ahead of London Rowing Club and Tideway Scullers School, by 2.12 seconds.

The first adaptive events to race at this years British Rowing Masters Championships saw Claire Parker from Falcon Rowing Club cross the line ahead of Gillian Middleton from Stratford Upon Avon Boat Club.

“Gillian, I think she’s only done one or two races before, she did a fabulous race,” said Claire. “She was rowing really strongly and in a straight line, which was not quite what I was doing! The more people we can get to come out and race, the better.”

Mixed events at the Championships put on a strong showing, and in the Mixed Intermediate 50+ Quadruple Sculls, Kingston Rowing Club took the medal after Thames Tradesman Rowing Club unfortunately caught a crab in the last 50m.

Pete, from the composite of Dart Totnes and Greenbank Falmouth in the Mixed F/G Eights reflected on his time at the British Rowing Masters Championships, bringing home his 50th medal. “I’ve been coming here for a long time. This is my 50th medal here, lots in the singles and this gold medal makes it 50. It was a fantastic race” – 6 seat commented “He’s only small” – he laughed “yes I’m only 5ft6 so, you know rowing really is for everyone”

In the Open D Coxless Fours, it was a battle of the red crews with Agecroft, Marlow Rowing Club and Nottingham and Union. Agecroft just took the gold medal over the line. The crew reflected and said “It was a tough one, but a good one” “It was neck and neck all the way and we were slightly down in the last 100m and then just pulled through to win”.

Victor Ludorum standings

Halfway through the racing, Tideway Scullers School had extended their lead in the overall Victor Ludorum. As a medium club, the small and large trophies were still up for grabs, and in the end it was Bradford on Avon Boat Club and London Rowing Club who brought them home respectively, each earning £250 for their club (with Tideway Scullers receiving £500), thanks to Faster Masters Rowing.

Type	Club	Points
Small Club	Bradford on Avon Boat Club	81 points
Medium Club	Tideway Scullers School	422 points
Large Club	London Rowing Club	242 points
Second Place	Monmouth Rowing Club	289 points

Chris Williams, Chair of Trustees at Tideway Scullers School said “It’s been a long weekend, but there’s been some epic racing. We’re really trying to focus on getting everyone competent to scull and row in the same way so they can mix and match, which has clearly been successful with some great results this weekend”

Diana Hunter, Chair of the British Rowing Board said “A huge thank you to all volunteers and the Organising Committee for putting on such a fantastic event. It’s been amazing to hand out medals to winners today alongside Martha Nutkins from the Rowing Committee and seeing such a wide variety of age categories racing.”

Christopher Anton, Event Chair said “Despite the variable British weather and with everything thrown at us, it has been a huge effort. I want to express mine and the Organising Committees thanks to all volunteers and competitors. It has been a great weekend” Chris reflected on his favourite race being the first Women’s adaptive event, and handing Claire Parker her medal. “It’s been something we’ve been trying to run for a number of years and we have succeeded this year, so thank you to the competitors for making some great adaptive races”