For the first time since 2015, the National Schools’ Regatta (NSR) returned to Nottingham for 2025 which culminated in a lively regatta which forced Sunday to be shelved due to wind forecast which posed danger to competitors. As a result, both J16 quads, championship pairs, and championship coxless fours had to be cut on top of all semifinals and repechages, leaving a condensed Saturday timetable that ran despite the ferocious headwind.
With so many athletes feeling disappointed that they had been “robbed” of a proper Regatta due to the poor venue, they took to Instagram, bombarding the NSR account with hundreds of #bringbackdorney comments.
However, there appeared to be no move to change the venue for weeks, with the rumour mill of the rowing world claiming that NSR was bound to Holme Pierrepont for the next several years. That was until the surprise announcement in late-June that NSR 2026 would move back to Dorney, a piece of news that was generally met with rejoicing reaction by the juniors hailing from anywhere south of Nottingham.
All that said, I can’t help but feel that we are still looking at Dorney with rose tinted glasses.
Is Dorney Lake’s prestige valid?
If we take the dimensions alone, Dorney has the upper hand on Holme Pierrepont, coming in with eight lanes compared to six, a warmup lake, and arguably easier access for Scottish or Irish crews travelling over, being just a 15-minute drive from Heathrow Airport. These advantages are additional to Dorney being generally more sheltered from the elements, leaving it less likely to experience the biblical headwind and waves felt by athletes on the Saturday of NSR in Nottingham this year.
However, a large part of why Dorney is also favoured, and which cannot be ignored in this conversation, is that the schools and clubs largely making the podiums at NSR continue to be largely centred around the rivers and lakes of southern England, notably along the banks of the Thames, which boasts the most rowing clubs of any river globally. With Dorney being so close to the Thames, it is no surprise that the majority of southerners prefer it to Nottingham.
On the other hand, Nottingham, while being in the midlands, has a much lower density of clubs around it. In addition to saving many hours for northern and midlands-based clubs and schools travelling to compete, it is situated right in the centre of the UK, rendering it the logical choice for an inclusive Regatta in terms of access.
I’m not saying that Holme Pierrepont is perfect; it certainly has a bad reputation for creating rough conditions. The site was originally meant to be an RAF base before being turned down for being too windy. That said, in low wind, the lake is just as flat as Dorney, with many believing that the location and lack of shelter can help to build wind speed. As the age-old adage goes, calm seas never make good sailors.
Moreover, Dorney also faces days of huge winds, especially cross winds, which cause far more lane bias and can totally skew results. It seems that these less favourable views on Dorney are neither remembered nor publicised quite so much in this debate on venues, probably owing to the fact that southern schools and clubs tend to dominate this discussion.
Is the criticism of Holme Pierrepont justified?
NSR 2025 was undoubtedly one of the worst iterations of the event in recent years due to the weather and cutting of events, but the venue cannot be to blame. Throughout the season, we have seen important races like Fours Head cancelled due to forecast, which was met with a much less aggravated response online, compared to the 350+ #bringbackdorney comments and various meme pages on Instagram slandering NSR for weeks. Slating Holme Pierrepoint for factors that were out of the organisers’ control seems wildly unfair.
Moreover, it’s hard to argue against the facilities of Holme Pierrepoint, as well as the cost savings associated with competing there versus Dorney. Holme Pierrepoint offers raised stands for spectators and ample space for boat trailers and merchandise tents to line the banks, a draw for crowds of competitors, coaches, and parents that has created a buzz like no other. From a cost perspective, the accommodation surrounding Holme Pierrepont is much cheaper than that around Dorney, aiding clubs who are often stretched for funds to begin with.
While it is now too late for Holme Pierrepoint to prove its worth as the premier lake for NSR in the coming years, the decision to relocate back to Dorney etched into NSR policy seems like it lacked consideration of the wider accessibility and exclusivity question marks over our sport.
It is tough to say, in one breath, that we are trying to broaden the scope of clubs who feel welcome and able to compete on the most prestigious junior stage, while, in the same breath, running the risk of alienating a whole community of successful athletes hailing from north of the M25.
Which is ultimately the better venue?
In terms of the capacity of competitors it can host, as well as the eight lanes over six and the prestige of rowing on the same lake that hosted the glittering golden age of the London 2012 Olympics, Dorney probably still takes the cake overall. However, we have to remember that there is so much more to Holme Pierrepoint than its exposure to the elements.
Situated in the middle of the map, Nottingham represents the idea that rowing should be a sport for across Britain where no one region is favoured. Though Holme Pierrepont may bring monstrous gusts in adverse conditions, it opens up the world of rowing to diverse competition – an idea that should be embraced and valued in future years of NSR to help add new spark to a 78-year-old event.
