Ollie Boyne, Cambridge University
Anyone who wins The Boat Race from the coxing seat deserves immense plaudits. Arguably the most cox-centric contest on the planet, the stakes are never higher than when broadcast on national television to millions and tasked with navigating the twisting, turning unpredictability of the Thames. In steering the Light Blues to victory in the men’s race, Ollie Boyne did this in style before turning his considerable skill to a Henley Royal Regatta campaign in The Grand Challenge Cup.
Ben Loggie, Shiplake College
Whilst interviewing various coxes for our partner, NK, we had the pleasure of briefly interacting with Ben Loggie whilst he was preparing to get his crew on the water at Henley Royal Regatta. It was immediately clear he was a mature head on young shoulders. The role of the cox with junior crews is so acute; you need to be able to extract the maximum level of performance from a group of relatively inexperienced athletes whilst still on your own very steep learning curve. In securing both the National Schools’ Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta titles, plus golds in the junior coxed four and eight at the Home International Rowing Regatta, Ben has proven himself as one of the country’s foremost steersmen.
Alice Gelling, Headington School
Anyone entrusted to take the reins of the top Headington eight by Ryan Demaine must be an exceptional talent. Like her winning Henley Royal Regatta counterpart, Loggie, Alice Gelling also won gold at the Home International Rowing Regatta in the eight after a sensational season on the strings at school. Steering a crew to victory at both the Henley events is one thing, but the skillset required to also dominate the Schools’ Head of the River – weaving amongst hundreds of other boats in a search for the fastest water – is something entirely different.
Rosie Margolis, London Rowing Club
Rosie Margolis is one of the country’s top coxes and has been for some time. In winning The Thames Challenge Cup with London Rowing Club this summer, she has added to a red box collection, which also features a Prince Albert Challenge Cup victory from 2016. Margolis has been invaluable in helping to lead a programme from the brink of anonymity to the bleeding edge of domestic success. Her role cannot be understated, and London’s top-ranked crew – who swept all before them in a magnificent season – were lucky to have her.
Hannah Jacobs, Surbiton High School
Plying her trade at Surbiton High School, Hannah Jacobs has been their premier cox for some time. Although the programme did not quite scale the heady heights of previous campaigns, Hannah was still entrusted with steering their top coxed four to victory at Henley Women’s Regatta (a feat she may have already accomplished at the National Schools’ Regatta, were it not for cancellation). Her international exploits take some reckoning, too. After winning gold at the 2024 Coupe de la Jeunesse, she took the reins of the U19 British women’s eight, steering them to a phenomenal win in Lithuania. She leaves behind her junior career as a world champion.
