News

Posted: 09 May 2025

BUCS Regatta, a key event for anyone in the university rowing scene, was already the largest regatta in Europe, but this year it expanded its schedule beyond the May bank holiday and added a fourth day of racing to its schedule as the 2025 event kicked off at midday on Friday 2nd May.

Fridays action saw Scottish clubs come away with a medal of each colour, Hansine Marshall of University of St Andrews BC brought home first place in the Women’s Beginner 1x, with Edinburgh University BC’s Beatrix Fooks taking the silver medal, clubmate Lucy Lucas followed closely in fourth place. In the Open Championship 4-, Edinburgh University BC finished 3rd, bringing home their first Champ medal of the regatta. Edinburgh’s Open Championship 2x came agonisingly close with a photo finish from the Bronze medal, just missing out to Reading University; and in the Women’s Championship 4+ Edinburgh University finished 5th, with University of Aberdeen in 6th.

On Saturday, Edinburgh & St Andrews’ Beginner Women came head-to-head again, this time Edinburgh University BC’s WBeg4x took the gold medal, with University of St Andrews only able to pick up the bronze medal. Ollie Plank of Edinburgh University BC made a statement at the first BUCS Regatta of his university career winning Bronze in the Men’s Championship Lightweight 1x, where Strathclyde University BC’s Felix Reynish, finished fifth. Similarly, fresher Penny Irvine marked her first BUCS with a Gold medal in the Women’s Championship 2- alongside partner Katie Robertson for Edinburgh University BC. Edinburgh picked up their fourth medal of the day with the Women’s Intermediate 4x bringing home a bronze medal.

Photo Credit: @jhodgettsmedia 

Saturday’s racing schedule was amended when a medical incident occurred. Scottish Rowing’s thoughts and condolences go out to all of those affected by the incident, and are thankful for the quick actions of athlete bystanders, volunteers and medical practitioners on site. 

Sunday’s finals saw a rare podium appearance for Glasgow Caledonian University as Ava Robertson (who represents Glasgow University BC day to day) won Silver in the Women’s Championship Lightweight 1x. Edinburgh University BC brought home a further three medals in the afternoon with Silvers in Open Intermediate 4+ and 4x, and a Bronze in the Women’s Intermediate 8+.

Photo Credit: Flynn Duggan

The fourth and final day of the regatta saw even more dominance in the Women’s Beginner events, as University of St Andrews won their second Gold of the weekend in the WBeg2x, while Edinburgh University BC picked up a Silver medal in the WBeg8+. Edinburgh University BC picked up another Championship Bronze medal when the Open Men’s 2- of Josh Matthews & Henry Blackwell fought hard in the choppy conditions against University of London & Durham University. The Championship 2-‘s result was backed up by a Bronze in the Intermediate 2- for Freddy Foxwell & Alexander Dixon, with Strathclyde University BC in fifth, followed by the third Edinburgh crew. The Edinburgh University BC women’s squad rounded out their regatta with a Bronze medal in the Women’s Intermediate 4+ with a blanket finish across the medal positions.

Photo Credit: Flynn Duggan

In the Victor Ludorum, Edinburgh University BC finished third in the Open standings, and fourth in the Overall event behind Newcastle, Durham & Reading. Glasgow Caledonian University, Strathclyde University BC & University of St Andrews BC finished a respectable =17th, 19th & 20th in the overall standings.

Congratulations to all the athletes, coaches and crews that took part in the regatta and while it marked the end of their BUCS campaigns, we look forward to seeing athletes from these clubs build on their domestic and international campaigns over the remainder of the regatta season.

Full event results can be found HERE.

Full Victor Ludorum results can be found HERE.

Photo Credit: @jhodgettsmedia 

Universities Represented 
University of Edinburgh, University of St Andrews, University of Glasgow, University of Aberdeen, University of Strathclyde, Heriot-Watt University, Glasgow Caledonian University & University of Dundee.

A-Final Results Summary: