JRN are delighted to announce that Newcastle University’s Women’s Eight are our Student Crew of the Year.
In a year when the student hierarchy almost seemed upside down at times, Newcastle rose above all domestic contenders to take the principal prize available exclusively to UK-based boats (BUCS Regatta women’s championship eights). After falling to Oxford Brookes at Henley Royal Regatta in 2024, they showed progress in the programme to make the Sunday of the 2025 edition, losing out to a dominant Rutgers University boat. Their entire Henley – both women’s and royal – campaigns were done without the talismanic Holly Youd, who won U23 World Rowing Championship gold last summer.
Chief women’s coach Alex Leigh said: “This season has been a remarkable journey for our crew, culminating in a well-deserved and inspiring achievement. The team has consistently demonstrated the ability to perform under pressure, stepping up when it mattered most and delivering results on the biggest stages.“
“What stands out is not only their results but also their character. This group has been the single most motivated team I have ever worked with. They approached training with humility, hunger to learn, and a willingness to embrace feedback. While not always flawless, they showed resilience, unity, and the confidence to trust the process—even when smaller events did not go as planned.”
“The foundation of this success was built over the past two years, with much of the crew carrying over from last season. Learning from the disappointments of earlier campaigns, they refined their approach and grew stronger together. Their collective commitment has been extraordinary, and they consistently found a way to rise to the occasion when it counted most.”
“This journey has been as rewarding for me as a coach as it has been for them as athletes. Their openness, drive, and team spirit created an environment of growth, teaching me as much as I taught them. The progress we’ve made—both technically and mentally—has been humbling and inspiring.”
“I am immensely proud that their dedication has now been recognised more widely. It is a fitting reward for the countless hours of hard work they have invested, and I know this recognition will mean a great deal to them.”
