32 records set at the 2026 British Rowing Club Championships
15 Junior records broken across four days of racing alongside 14 new Senior records as adaptive racing raced over 2000m for the first time at the Club Championships
Credit: AllMarkOne
The 2026 British Rowing Club Championships was a year to remember for so many reasons. Thousands of competitors came from 169 clubs, creating four days of high-calibre racing. With warm waters and a tailwind, the perfect conditions were brewing for record-breaking conditions.
The J16s wrote themselves into the history books more times than anyone else. Sir William Perkins’s School Boat Club now holds both the WJ16 Coxed Four and the Quadruple Sculls record times, while the Open J16 Coxed Four record is now held byWallingford Rowing Club.
Alongside winning the Junior and Overall Victor Ludorum titles, The Windsor Boys’ School Boat Club now hold three records, two of which were set this year. Alongside the Open J15 Coxed Quad, which they’ve held since 2015, they now hold the Open J16 Quadruple Sculls record after clocking 6:19.02, as well as the Open J18 Eight, which saw them crush a 36-year-old record, previously held by the ARA National Squad by 1.7 seconds.
““It means the world to us. It was an unbelievable experience, and we’re so happy we can come together and cross the finish line with a smile,” said Josh Kay of The Windsor Boys’ School.
“Looking up at the board, seeing 5:57.52, there were tears of joy, and this will always have a place in my heart. It’s amazing.”
“It’s brilliant. I’ve raced the British Championships every year since I was 14. To end it as an 18-year-old and with a win is fantastic,” echoed Bailey Taylor.
“This club has taught me how to row, taught me how to be successful, and taught me so many life lessons that I’ll keep using forever. I couldn’t be more grateful for Windsor Boys’”
Cambois Rowing Club broke the Open J16 Double Sculls record, one week after racing the Great Britain v France J16 Match. Speaking of international representation, Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club’s Connie Batley-Smith smashed the Women’s J15 Single Sculls record just one week after winning in Gravelines, France.
At the youngest end of the spectrum, Henley Rowing Club stole the honours. Across the short, sharp 1000m racing, their Open J14 Coxed Quad clocked 3:25.43
Following feedback from the adaptive rowing community, in 2026 competitors raced the full 2,000m course, resulting in new records across all categories. The adaptive racing included presenter of BBC’s Blue Peter, Abby Cook, of Agrecroft Rowing Club win the Women’s AR 1/2 single scull, setting the new British Record in the process.
For three years in a row, Thames Rowing Club has won the Mixed Championship Eights. Each year they’ve gone quicker and this year was no different. hey took eight seconds off their previous best, and marched ever closer to breaking the six-minute barrier, the record now standing at 6:04.83.
“This is the third year in a row that Thames have won the Mixed Eights at the British Championships, and it’s such a great event; we’re all thrilled to be here,” said Rosa Millard.
“The atmosphere is fantastic, the spectators, the tents, the sponsors- where else can you race a Mixed Eight like this? It’s so fun doing this as we see each other every day, but we don’t actually get to race or train together.”
Both Club Single Scull records, Pair records, Coxed and Coxless Four records also fell.
James Coombes and Charley Faint of Hereford Rowing Club and Leeds Rowing Club, respectively, set record times on their way to gold medal-winning performances across the CLub Single Sculls
As well as triumphing in the Senior Victor Ludorum for the first time in its history, Nottingham Rowing Club are now the proud holders of six senior British records. Their Women’s Club Coxless Four wrote themselves into the history books, as did their Women’s Club Coxless Four, Pair, and Quadruple Scull. The club’s Open Beginner Double Scull is now the proud owner of a Club Champs record too.
