The Windsor Boys’ School break 36 year old record on Day 2 of British Rowing Club Championships 2026

A day to remember as the Eights steal the headlines at the National Water Sports Centre

The Windsor Boys’ School Boat Club wrote themselves into the history books as they toppled a 36-year-old record on the second day of racing at the British Rowing Club Championships.

Bailey Taylor, Alex Moss, Aidan Manwaring, Will Markham, Joshua Kay, Alex Calver, Thomas Pakulis, Oliver Britton, and cox Alexander Kosydar took 1.7 seconds off the previous record that was set in 1990 by the ARA Squad crew.

“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.

“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’”

Life often comes with certain guarantees. Death, taxes, and The Windsor Boys’ School Boat Club winning sculling events at the Club Championships. Such was the case in the Open J18 Double Sculls. They were pushed hard in the closing stages by George Watson’s College Boat Club and The Lea Rowing Club, but Sam Moss and Pierce Woods clung on to ensure Windsor’s second win in the event in two years.

The timings of the rest of the medal finals kicking off coincided perfectly with the sun finally breaking through the clouds that had enveloped the National Water Sports Centre throughout the morning.

The scenes on the presentation pontoon mirrored the end of yesterday’s racing as Nottingham Rowing Club returned, this time winners of the Open Club Eights. The big boats continued to provide thunderous roars, none more so than Cambridge University Boat Club, as their kaleidoscope crew motored across the line, winners of the Women’s Club Eights, capping off an exciting summer season for the University’s development squad.

Coming into this year’s Club Championships, Thames Rowing Club had made the Mixed Eights their event to lose. This year, they arrived with no fewer than five Henley Royal Regatta winners on board, desperate to come away with a win and beat their record-breaking time from last year. They won out by 23 seconds over Agecroft Rowing Club, beating last year’s time and coming within five seconds of the six-minute barrier that they continue to chase.

“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.”

Credit: AllMarkOne

Rounding off the block of Eights racing was the closest of the early afternoon offering. With 250m left of the Women’s J18 Eights, there was less than a third of a length separating Leeds Rowing Club and Wallingford Rowing Club. Come the finish, it was Leeds who held on to win by a second, with the Scottish composite of Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association and St Andrew Boat Club third.

From the biggest boats to the smallest, the Women’s J18 Single Sculls was set up to be spectacular. With 0.8s between second and fifth in the morning’s time trial, all eyes were on the grand finale, later in the day. Gracie Janes was the favourite and delivered a win in fine fashion.

As is so often the case, one of the day’s great races came in the Single Sculls. On this occasion, the Open J16s were in action with three scullers conducting a masterpiece. After winning against France last weekend in Gravelines at the annual J16 Match, Aidan Lawlor of Durham Amateur Rowing Club found himself sitting in second place with 500m left to go. Surging behind him was Falcon Rowing Club’s Oliver Ross, who was flying through the gears after coming into the last quarter in fourth place. The two would wrestle their way through the pack with Lawlor chalking up his second win in two weeks, and Ross snatching a well fought silver.

The barnburners kept coming as Nottingham Rowing Club did the double in the Club Quadruple Sculls. Globe Rowing Club mounted one last charge on Nottingham, who had led for so much of the Open event, but it wasn’t to be for the men from East London as the local lads added another win to Nottingham Rowing Club’s ever-growing tally. Just a few minutes later, the women came from behind to beat Sir William Perkins’s School Boat Club. The Nottingham quartet timed their move to perfection and demonstrated they were the Jacks of all trades, after the same crew won Club Coxless Fours yesterday.

“It’s exactly the same crew as yesterday, but a slightly different order, explained Rowena Hems.

“It was so much fun, and I can’t believe we did it! It’s really awesome to get to win. We were nervous this morning, and now I can’t believe we’ve won two days running, and now we go again tomorrow in the doubles.”

Credit: AllMarkOne

Speaking of Fours, it was a win for the University of Birmingham in the Mixed Coxed Fours, ahead of Newark Rowing Club and Itchen Imperial in second and third, respectively.

The Beginner events belonged to Cardiff Metropolitan University Boat Club. The Archers shot straight and true as Oliver Nathan won the Open Single Scull while Grace Chaffey and Gemma Bennett dominated the Women’s Double Sculls, met with rapturous applause and cheers from coaches and teammates.

The rest of the day showcased some of the very best of J16 and J18 rowing. Sir William Perkins’s School Boat Club took the Women’s J16 Double Sculls, producing one of the best celebrations of the regatta so far. If anything came close, it was Claires Court School as they won the Women’s J18 Coxless Fours. The celebrations continued for Perkins’s as their J16 girls excelled in the Coxed Fours.

With St Paul’s Girls’ School Boat Club, Kingston Rowing Club, and Molesey Boat Club all chasing the leaders, Perkins’s held their nerve, coming through clutch with just over two seconds between first and fourth.

One week after winning the Home International Trials for England, Westminster were back in action at the National Water Sports Centre, cruising to a win in the Open J18 Pairs. The J16 event belonged to Shiplake College Boat Club as they held steadfast in the bouncy tailwind that gradually picked up as the afternoon transitioned into evening. In the same race, it was heartbreak for Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association, who ended up fourth, 0.03s back on Barn Elmes Boat Club, who were third behind Walton Rowing Club.

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