Across The Line: 400 crews race in Bedford and Maidenhead claim the headship in Abingdon
Plus, catch up on the latest results from GB Rowing Team Final Trials and news from across the rowing community
Credit: AllMarkone
We’re Across The Line! Join us to look back on a thrilling weekend of racing in the UK.
400 crews racing on the River Great Ouse
Bedford RC welcomed the world as they had a day to remember on their home water. The host club of Bedford Spring Head won a perfect 10 events on the day, and had the two fastest crews across the six divisions. On their way to those top two positions, Bedford RC won both the Open Quadruple Sculls and the Band 1 Open Coxed Fours.
The Spring Head is one of three events that the clubs host, along with the Fours and Eights Head in February, and their Autumn Fours and Small Boats Head in October. Along with the other clubs and schools that share the same stretch of the river, they play a vital part in organising the Bedford Amateur Regatta in May.
Over the course that is roughly 2000m long, Leicester RC fielded the fastest women’s crew as their Band 1 Quadruple Scull beat a pair of crews from Globe RC and a further entry from Peterborough City RC.
Across the day, the juniors shone, and Bedford continued to show their strength. The club, whose home is nestled next to Bedford Town Bridge, also won the Women’s J18 quadruple Scull and the Double Scull to go with it. Star Club, a couple of hundred metres upstream, won the Open J17 Quad event. While Stratford upon Avon BC won the Women’s J18 Single Scull, City of Oxford would win the Open equivalent. That wasn’t the end of the day’s success for ‘Leblanc’ as he went his own way and won the Double Scull in an all-Oxford composite with Falcon RC.
Some of the highlights of the day’s racing came in the Open Coxless Fours, as Warwick BC and a Bedford RC/St Neots RC shared the honours with both crews clocking the same time, with Lincoln Rowing Centre placing third, just one second ahead of Peterborough City RC. Elsewhere, Star Club put three crews into the top three of the Women’s Band 2 Quads, with just three seconds separating them.
Maidenhead RC claim headship at Abingdon Head
Maidenhead RC floated the fastest crew of the day at this year’s edition of Abingdon Head. Their Open Masters G Quadruple Scull beat the Open Quad from Wallingford RC by 14s, following the handicap adjustment. The club from SL6 put two crews in the top four as their Masters E Quad was less than 0.8s behind Worcester RC’s Masters F quartet.
Over 110 crews raced over three divisions on the River Thames, finishing at the end of the straight that the club and Abingdon School call home.
One of the standout performances came in the Women’s F Masters Double Scull. The composite crew of Marlow RC and Upper Thames RC were untouchable as they finished seventh overall and the fastest women’s crew of the day.
Credit: AllMarkOne
Abingdon Head was packed full of Mixed crews across the boat classes and throughout the age categories. Windemere RC had one crew racing, but they made it count as their Mixed Masters F Double Scull was the best of the doubles and the quickest mixed crew of the day. Just over two seconds back on them was Guildford RC who’s Mixed Masters D Quad was the best of the quartets. Thames Scullers won the Mixed J16 Double Scull.
GB Rowing Team Final Trials winners crowned and 2025 performances recognised
The men’s and women’s final Senior and U23 GB Rowing Team squad trials took place this weekend at the National Training Centre, Caversham, joined by the PR1 Men’s Para rowing athletes. With racing in pairs and double sculls, across time trials, semi finals and into finals, it was an action-packed weekend of exciting racing.
George Bourne and Douwe de Graaf took the win in the Men’s Pair A final ahead of Jake Wincomb and Harry Geffen, with Miles Beeson and Archie Drummond in third. Eleanor Brinkhoff and Megan Slabbert crossed the finish line first in the Women’s pair A final, second went to Sarah Marshall and Heidi Long with Holly Youd and Katherine George in third. Tobias Schrōder and Cedol Dafydd were victorious in the Men’s double sculls final with James Cartwright and Jamie Gare in second and Ed Fuller and Matt Long in third. The Women’s double sculls final was won by Olympic Champions Lauren Henry and Imogen Grant, with Lola Anderson and Becky Wilde in second and Rebekah Court and Ellie Dash in third.
For the first time, GB’s Para Men’s PR1 single scullers also took part in April trials. Paralympic, World and European Champion Benjamin Pritchard took the win ahead of Scotland’s Jake Woods.
Other Events
Thames Upriver: Reigning region splits into three ahead of this year’s Junior Inter Regional Regatta
As the countdown to the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta begins, we take a look back at Victor Ludorum winners Thames Upriver and learn about the region moving into three separate racing regions.
Thames Upriver collect the Victores Ludorum Trophy at the Junior Inter Regional Regatta 2023. Credit: AllMarkOne
The move, tripling the racing opportunities for clubs in the Thames Upriver region, brings the total number of racing teams to 16.
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That’s all from Across The Line this week!
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