Racing off to a fiery start at the British Rowing Club Championships 2025
Warm weather and calm conditions greeted competitors and spectators on day one of four at this year’s Championships
Credit: AllMarkOne
0.3 seconds separated first and second place in the first time trial of the day (Women’s Club Single Sculls) at Holme Pierrepont Country Park, Nottingham. A fitting start to an incredible day of racing, marked by tiny margins and huge celebrations.
“We can’t describe the feeling of getting a medal”
As the biggest category of the competition, the Open J18 Single Sculls didn’t disappoint in delivering some incredible racing. It was tight from the time trials, with second place just 0.1 seconds ahead of two scullers in third at 05:40.1. It was Quinn Molesey of Durham Amateur RC who took gold, flanked by former British Rowing Indoor Championship winner Louis Sheasby of Hartpury University and College BC and Cameron McKenzie of Northampton RC in third.
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Quinn, a J16 athlete younger than the rest of the field and dubbed by the commentators as ‘one to watch’, was fresh off a win at GB vs France. He’ll be racing in the Open J16 Single Sculls tomorrow, and exciting things are sure to come from this young sculler.
It was a victory for Con Barrett and Finn Beattie in the Open Beginner Double Sculls. The Yorkshire GB Performance Development Academy crew, who started rowing in October 2024, finished with a comfortable lead over Millfield School BC in silver and Nottingham RC in bronze. Con said: “We’re both buzzing with this win. It’s a great accomplishment for our first year in rowing. We both feel like we rowed to the best of our abilities and our training came through for us. We can’t describe the feeling of getting a medal – hopefully more of that to come in the future!”
Our first dryrobe® was awarded to Lizzie Webster of Leicester RC, the new Women’s Club Single Sculls Champion. Leicester RC also took the win in the Open men’s event after an impressive race from Teddy Sherman, who overhauled Hereford RC’s Jamie Coombes in the final stages of the race.
Lightweight medals were hotly contested during Friday’s racing, but Ben Parsonage of Clydesdale ARC raced to a smooth victory in the Open Championship Lightweight Sculls, beating Sylvain Boyer of Kingston RC and Jack Norton of the University of Bath BC who took silver and bronze respectively. Fourth place went to Ollie Plank of Edinburgh University BC, who will be racing in a boat with Ben in the Open Championship Double Sculls on Sunday. In the Women’s event, Hazel Wake of City of Oxford RC took the gold, with Catherine Jackson of Worcester RC claiming silver and Leanna Daniels of Hollingworth Lake RC the bronze.
“The atmosphere between seniors and juniors racing side-by-side was incredible”
In the Women’s J16 Pairs, Isla Evans and Jasmin Irvin-Sellers had a self-proclaimed shaky start, but after battling with Wallingford RC’s ‘B’ crew right down to the line, took silver on the surge. The pair celebrated with a signature handshake that they’ve been using since Junior Inter Regional Regatta! Gold went to Aberdeen Schools’ RA, whilst bronze was taken by Wallingford RC ‘B’.
Mark Davies, CEO of British Rowing, said “It’s been a fantastic day in Nottingham: brilliant racing, a great atmosphere, and so many smiles on and off the water. A real celebration of club rowing at its best!”
Chris Callow, British Rowing Club Championships Organising Committee Chair said; “The big thing is that the atmosphere between seniors and juniors racing side-by-side was incredible. Great to witness fantastic racing – not only across A finals but right across the board to the F finals – especially the open club coxless fours event! Thank you to all the competitors, coaches and volunteers – let’s hope for another three days of fantastic racing!”
Catch up on today’s racing on Champs Live!
