Metropolitan Regatta 2025 – Open Championship Singles Preview

With the Metropolitan Regatta taking place this weekend, it only means one thing: the lead up to Henley Royal Regatta is on. First held in 1866, this regatta is one of the oldest in the UK, and has been raced on Dorney Lake since 2001. The championship single sculls is one of the original events that was raced at the first Metropolitan Regatta, and hence is steeped in history. Those who race this event may aim for The Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley in a month, so this event will be a good marker of each sculler’s form. Some scullers are racing Saturday and Sunday, with a mix of U23 talent from the UK and Ireland, and some very experienced rowers.

Minerva Bath Rowing Club: Joshua Knight

One of the up-and-coming scullers on the UK racing circuit, Josh Knight, is a highly successful Bath Performance Development Academy graduate. So far, he has had a storming 24/25 season, with a sixth-place finish at the February GB trials (in a double with three-time Olympian Greame Thomas), followed by a strong seventh place at the April trials. Those results highlight Knight’s talent, and he followed up the winter season by winning the singles at Wallingford Regatta a month ago. He has his sights set on a GB vest, and racing both days at the Metropolitan Regatta this weekend will be another chance to showcase his speed. You would not bet against him winning again this weekend, but there are some very strong scullers in the rest of the field.

Leander Club: Calvin Tarczy

Coming a close second to Knight at Wallingford Regatta, Tarczy returns to race just the Saturday event, but will be looking for one place better off this weekend. Tarczy has had an illustrious career, being part of the all-conquering 2018 St Paul’s School Boat Club eight, which has been labelled the fastest schoolboy boat ever. He spent the next few years at Harvard University, before returning to the UK to row for Leander Club, where a senior GB vest must not be too far away. Historically more of a sweep rower than a sculler, Tarczy has spent a reasonable amount of the 24/25 season in the single, so should go into the Metropolitan Regatta this weekend confident of a good result.

Reading University BC: Matt Long

Just racing on Sunday, Matt Long comes into this weekend as one of the premier scullers in the country. He is part of a dominant sculling-only Reading University programme that has won virtually every sculling event on the student rowing scene. Long won the championship singles at BUCS Regatta 2025, beating a very fast finishing Oxford Brookes sculler to prove his pace. It will be a very interesting battle on Sunday, and Long will undoubtedly be one of the favourites.

Other Scullers

Archie Norton from Bath University has some pedigree at U23 and junior level in the single, and is also part of Bath’s bronze medal-winning quad at BUCS regatta. He may be competitive to get an A-final slot, but may find it hard to compete for medals given the field quality on Saturday.

Greenbank Falmouth’s Tim Wilkinson posted a good fifth place at Wallingford Regatta, so will be hoping to be in contention again in both single events this weekend.

There is also a high-quality group of scullers coming over from Ireland to test their speed. In R Claffey, J Tanner, L Watts and B Colsh, they bring a wealth of U23 and senior trials experience and could shake up the medal positions at the Metropolitan Regatta this weekend.

Predictions

Saturday: I can’t see anyone getting near Josh Knight, who will take the win. Second and third should be a closer battle, with Calvin Tarczy taking the silver behind Knight again and Watts from Lagan Scullers Club taking the bronze.

Sunday: The matchup between Knight and Matt Long looks like it will be a great battle. Both are scullers at the top of their game, but I think Long will just have enough to take the win over Knight. Watts will again take third.