16 winners crowned on Day 1 of the British Rowing Club Championships 2026

Nearly 400 crews took to the sun-kissed waters in Nottingham as the record-breaking event got underway

169 clubs have made the pilgrimage to the National Water Sports Centre for a four-day festival of racing. For the second year in a row, the Open J18 Single Sculls was the largest entry at this year’s British Rowing Club Championships. With just 0.2s separating 12th and 13th in the first time trial of the day, it was clear the finals were going to serve up a mouthwatering affair.

Following a lunchtime programme of semi-finals, repechages, and minor finals showcasing the strength and depth of club rowing, the honour of the first final of the Championships went to the Women’s Club Coxless Fours. Passing the 1000m marker, the locals, Nottingham Rowing Club, trailed by a length, but a sensational second half and an almighty final 250m saw them overall Wallingford Rowing Club who led for so much of the race. It was a perfect foreshadowing for racing that would unfold later in the evening.

As expected, the Open J18 Single Scull was a thriller. Out in front, it was a fitting season finale for Lea Rowing Club’s Thomas Pakulis, who took gold in Nottingham to add to his gold earlier in the season at the National Schools’ Regatta. Behind him, Max Evans of Rob Roby Boat Club and Fred Britton of Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School were trying to land knock-out blows throughout the final 250m. Come the finish line, it was Britton who edged out Evans by 0.4s

“It was an epic race, and I’m really proud,” said Pakulis.

“It’s a great feeling for me, but it’s also great to give this to my coaches who taught me to row for many years. It’s great to be able to give something back before I leave.”

Success continued for local clubs throughout the afternoon. Nottingham and Union Boat Club were pushed all the way to the finish line in the Women’s J18 Double Sculls, but the Scots would come up second best behind Ella Hardman and Amie Page. The locals looked imperious as they won the time trial, but after a tussle with the Edinburgh-based club in the semi-finals, they won when it mattered most and head home with the gold medal.

After placing second in the Time Trial of the Open Club Single Scull, six seconds back on the winner, James Coombes delivered an unforgettable performance in the final. The Hereford Rowing Club sculler grabbed the proverbial bull by the horns and, as he came up to the line, extended his clear water advantage that he had at halfway.

After winning the time trial and his semi-final, big things were expected of Lea Rowing Club’s Max Raymond-Barker. Big things came as he overhauled London Rowing Club’s Arun Jackson to finish second, with Minerva Bath’s Archie Norton climbing the rankings from fourth to sneak a bronze in the final 500m.

It was a busy day of Single Sculls racing. Charley Faint led from start to finish to win the Women’s Club event, much like Sylvain Boyer, who won the Open Championship Lightweight category. Hazel Wake dominated the Women’s Championship Lightweight event, leading all three markers and beating Leanna Daniels of Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club into second place.

“I followed my race plan and got ahead,” explained Wake.

“I had a strong start, had the lead by 500m and then it was all about maintaining that until the end. The conditions were good, they times.

In the Women’s J16 Single Sculls, it was no surprise to see Alva Clements of George Watson’s College winning by clear water. The J16 sculler was fourth in the A Final of Championship Girls Single Sculls at NSR, and fast forward eight weeks, she dominated proceedings at the National Water Sports Centre.

“It feels amazing, all my hard work over the year has really paid off, and it really feels like such a big achievement,” explained Clements.

“In the final 250m I was like, ‘let’s just send it and keep the blade work clean as I don’t want to fumble it at this stage! It was just so cool.

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The Scots were inches away from a second gold medal in the Open J16 Double Sculls. Cambois Rowing Club had other ideas. Throughout this season, George Watson’s College have produced some sprints for the history books, but this valiant effort would fall short by 0.3s as Sonny Hughes and Harry Shaw clung on for gold, one week after representing Great Britain against France in the annual J16 France.

“In the last 500, we saw George Watson’s really coming at us. I was thinking about last year’s race in the J15 Double Sculls where we got silver by 0.8s, and we were trying to get gold,” said Harry Shaw.

“We’ve been rowing together for years, so it’s been a long time coming. It’s amazing. It’s also our last race together as I’m moving away, so it means a lot to finally get a win,” added Sonny Hughes.

As the afternoon unfolded, the sweep rowing was sublime. Whether it was the humdinger in the Open J18 Coxless Fours where Reading Blue Coat School Boat Club emerged victorious over a fast-finishing Windsor Boys’ School quartet, or Wallingford Rowing Club’s dominant performance in the Open J16 Coxed Fours, the juniors were outstanding.

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The King’s School Chester Boat Club won the Women’s J18 Pairs and Strathclyde Park Rowing Club were simply sublime in the J16 event. The Scots came from behind to row through Sir William Perkins’s School, who led for more than 1700m and win by more than a length.

“It feels unbelievable to have a gold medal round my neck,” said Blythe Robertson, half of the winning duo.

“This has been so fun, and I can’t believe I get to win with Blythe as well,” echoed Matilda West.

In the Beginner events, the University of Birmingham Boat Club dominated proceedings in the Women’s Coxed Fours. The Men’s Doubles was never in doubt as Nottingham Rowing Club won the final race of the day, concluding a Bobby Dazzler of a day’s racing and a golden 10 minutes for the local club as they won gold and bronze in Open Club Coxless Fours.

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