British club rowing is entering one of its most competitive eras in recent memory. The standard on the domestic circuit rose again last year, and 2025 is already shaping up to be a season where depth, ambition and technical quality will define the leading programmes. While all clubs will be striving to improve on their results from last year, here are some key names to look out for in the new year.
Molesey Boat Club
Molesey Boat Club has continuously pushed the standard of women’s club rowing over the past three years. Their 2025 campaign ended on a high note with their championship four winning at Henley Women’s Regatta and qualifying three women’s eights for the Ron Needs Cup, a testament to the depth of their squad. At Henley Royal Regatta, Molesey women made history in The Wargrave Challenge Cup, becoming the first all-Molesey women’s crew to win at Henley Royal. They also set a new course record by an impressive 19 seconds, a reflection of their hard work and dedication over the past few years.
This season, they have continued to build on this momentum, with impressive results nationally and internationally. In October, they took silver in the women’s championship eights at the Head of the Charles in Boston (only beaten by a Team USA outfit). Molesey then sent ten women to GB trials, where three progressed into the top ten, underlining the strength of the athlete pool. Their results at Fours Head also reflect the range of their athletes. They won the club quad and club four, placed across the top five in the club coxless four and took second in the championship coxed four.
Much of this success has been shaped by Head Coach Sam Tuck. His impact is evident in the squad’s tactical ability, consistency and confidence in big races. Molesey women will be looking to build on their recent success and enter 2025 as one of the most competitive club squads in the country.
Thames Rowing Club
Thames remains a giant of British club rowing. They took the new Bridge Challenge Plate by storm in 2025, setting the course record with a time of 6:56 and establishing a strong standard for intermediate women’s rowing. Their Henley Women’s Regatta campaign saw wins in the aspirational club eight and the aspirational club coxless four, and their championship eight reached the finals of the Ron Needs Challenge Cup.
They opened the 2025 Fours Head with characteristic strength, entering five championship crews placing across the top ten in both the coxed and coxless four categories. Their squad has size and depth that carry over from one season to the next.
With 42 athletes racing across eight crews at Henley Women’s Regatta last year, Thames continues to operate at a scale that no other club equals. Their rivalry with other London clubs, Molesey and London RC, is still one of the defining narratives in domestic rowing, and there is every sign it will continue this season.
Leander Club
Leander’s women delivered an incredibly impressive display at Fours Head, entering six crews and taking a clean sweep of the women’s championship events. Their athletes continue to dominate at GB trials, with 32 members across the men’s and women’s squads competing in November, including Katherine George, who took second place in the single.
Last season, they won the Women’s Head of the River Race and will look to defend that title as we head into the next set of head racing. The coaching direction set by Ross Hunter has given the team a clear identity. His experience across university, club and national levels has helped shape a squad with structure and resilience.
Leander will be putting in the work to improve on last year’s regatta season, after narrowly missing out on The Wargrave, The Town and The Remenham Challenge Cups at Henley Royal last year. Their early-season success shows they are targeting those goals with purpose.
London Rowing Club
London RC have been steadily constructing a women’s squad capable of challenging the other Thames powerhouses. Their impact is becoming harder to ignore. They took the senior club pennant at the Women’s Head of the River Race, reached the semifinals of The Wargrave Challenge Cup, and their aspirational eight lost in the final by only a quarter length.
So far this season, they are setting the standard high, taking the club four title at Fours Head, and placing second in the club coxed four. Their small boats remain potent. They swept the podium at Upper Thames Autumn Head in the women’s double and picked up wins in the four and eight categories.
Under the direction of Captain Jemima Harbottle, this squad is on an upward trajectory and one with the capacity to put pressure on any of the top clubs this year.
Upper Thames Rowing Club
Upper Thames continues to develop a broad and technically proficient women’s programme. Their home-water dominance at Autumn Head saw them win 13 races across sculling and sweep. They then backed up those domestic results with a strong set of finishes at Fours Head, placing inside the top ten in the women’s championship quad, the open club quad and the women’s club quad.
Their Henley Women’s campaign was one of the most successful in the club’s history. Imogen Grant took the championship single, the championship pair reached the final, the club coxless four made the last two, and their aspirational crews progressed deep into the weekend.
Upper Thames remains one of the strongest clubs on the Thames corridor and is building crews capable of challenging at the top end of club events.
City of Bristol Rowing Club
City of Bristol had an exceptional early winter, sweeping the women’s categories at Gloucester Head in eights, fours and doubles. Their programme has developed consistency in both sweep and sculling, and their Henley Women’s squad continues to expand in size and ambition.
They remain the standout high-performance centre in the Southwest. With a core group returning and momentum already visible in race sharpness, Bristol looks ready to push further up the national rankings this season.
Leicester Rowing Club
An honourable mention goes to Leicester RC’s double, Lizzie Webster and Eleanor Gough. Their win in the Rosie Mayglothling Trophy at Henley Women’s was one of the stories of the season. They backed it up with the British Rowing Club Championship title a month later. Their success marks a significant moment for Leicester’s women’s squad. With Howard Marsh as a coach, we are excited to see what this double will achieve in the new year.
