Masters and Seniors Racing Report
Last year 145 Ross Senior Squad crews entered a total of 33 regattas or heads. This is a notable increase on previous years and It is hoped that this increased participation will continue over the coming seasons. It is, of course a credit to the enthusiasm of the participating crews and it may be more than a coincidence that this increase coincides with a change in the way that the senior captains have approached crew selection and crew participation.Credit too must go to the coaches, Clive Killick, Malcolm Pobjoy, Tim Ball and Buffy for raising standards, getting new rowers on the water and encouraging the whole senior section of the club.
It has been great to see crews that have come through the L2R programme attending and enjoying heads and regattas for the first time. Credit for this has to go to the whole L2R team who have developed the L2R programme and have created a pathway for new members to progress through the club.
We have welcomed back a number of our student members who competed for the club during their summer break, an initiative fueled by the enthusiasm of Torsten, Annabel and Charlie Pope.
It’s rewarding to see how so many of our past juniors are now rowing for their university clubs and have continued to develop into skilled and highly proficient rowers. To see that George Aubrey can still fit into the original light blue Junior academy all in one is a cause of some wonderment!
It has been lovely to go to our local regattas with a full boat trailer, sometimes even two! And to revisit the days when seniors, juniors and their parents would help and support each other, and cheer everyone on at the finish line. We very much hope this cooperation and camaraderie will develop and continue over future seasons.
MARS has been a great success on Sunday mornings and Tuesday afternoons this year. Many participants of varying abilities were coached and supported by Jackie Baynham and her team of volunteers to enjoy our sport and our river and the fellowship of tea and cake.
We are very fortunate to have Bron and Graham as captains, they have driven forward the success of the club over the 2025 season. So thank you to them for all their hard work. Thanks must go to all the coaches, to Lucy for coordinating Learn2row,to Nicky for coordinating MARS and to all the rowers who have given selflessly of their time to bring others on.
Ross regatta 2025
Against the odds our 150th anniversary regatta was a great success with 23 masters crews from RRC competing as well as working hard behind the scenes. This included a number of L2R graduates competing for the first time.
Sunday wins
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Bron and George in a W2x
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Ellen, Alice, Alison and Holly with cox Jessie in a W4+
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Tim Ball, Tim Davies, Gareth and Anthony in a 4x
Monday wins
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Annabel & Fliss in a 2-
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Ellen, Alice, Alison and Holly with Cox Jessie in a W4+
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Bron and George in a 2x
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A composite crew of Annabel, Fliss, Kate and Violet in a W4x
Well done to everyone for all the hard work put in to making this event such a success. The juniors in particular were recognised for their hard work and dedication both in the tea tent and for the post regatta clear up.
Great Ouse Marathon
7 heroic Ross crews took part in this years Great Ouse Marathon, battling a strong head wind to complete the 22km course.
The mixed 8 crew including George and Olly Smith, father and son competing in the same boat, Greg, Georgie, Charlie, Annabel, Fliss, Niamh with Jessie coxing were victorious their category.
Particular kudos has to go to Buffy for competing in challenging conditions in a single!! Also to Chris and Andy having completed this years L2R programme, finished the course in a fantastic 1:43. Well done guys!
Upton Beginners Regatta
Whilst we took the largest cohort of members ever to the Great Ouse Marathon, we also had a crew from this year’s Learn2Row group who competed in the Upton Beginners Regatta. This round robin event saw them win 2 of their 6 races.
Massive well done to the crew and huge thanks to Emily for being part of the group, coxing and coaching.
Junior Racing Report
At Ross regatta the junior squad were out in force. When they weren’t racing they were mainly in the tea tent along with parents doing a great job. Sunday saw wins for Ben and Will in the J152x, and Faith and Leah in the WJ18 2x, and strong performances from Issy R and Matilda in the WJ15 2x, Issy S and Lily M in the WJ18 2x (Issys first race),Tom and Monty in the J15 2x, Ethan in a the J15 1x and Rufus in the J14 1x. On Monday there were wins for Tom and Ethan in the J15 2x and an impressive win for Leah, Will, Ben and Faith in the mixed senior quad through a QF SF and final against three strong senior crews. We also had other strong performances from Issy R and Matilda in the WJ15 2x and Monty in the J15 1x.
