News

Posted: 24 June 2025

For the second year running, Scottish clubs won three trophies at Henley Women’s Regatta during a warm and windy weekend in Oxfordshire. 

Scottish Winners at HWR 2025, photo credit: Tom Young

The first Scottish victory of the day came in the Chairmans Trophy for Aspirational Quadruple Sculls where the composite crew of athletes from the Performance Development Academy overcame the challenges of the crew from Clydesdale ARC; in what was a repeat of a race a few weeks earlier at the Scottish Rowing Championships. The crew of Ella Gildert (Strathclyde Park RC), Polly Swaile (Glasgow University BC), Louise Brooks (University of Leeds BC) and Ursie Flemming (Nottingham RC), coached by Perri McCluskey (Scottish Rowing) & Matt Mole (British Rowing), put in commanding performances throughout the regatta before meeting their sculling neighbours in the final.

Following the result, Perri said “Being part of this collaborative project has been incredibly rewarding. The athletes showed impressive growth both as individuals and as a crew, driven by their focus and determination. Finishing the competition with a win was the perfect way to round off a fantastic weekend”

Ella, Polly, Louise & Ursie, photo credit: Tom Young 

Just five minutes later, Edinburgh University BC secured the Frank V Harry Cup for Development Coxed Fours for the third year in a row. The crew of Scarlett Bureau, Lara Thomson, Lucy Lucas, Beatrix Fooks and returning cox from 2024, Theo Murphy, once again showed the consistency and strength of the EUBC Beginner Rowing Programme led by Mike Hughes by securing comfortable wins throughout the regatta before a half-length showdown with Surrey University BC in the final.

Scarlet, Lara, Beatrix, Theo & Lucy, photo credit: Charley Faint 

Rounding out thirty minutes of excitement for the Scots, yet another athlete with less than 12 months of rowing experience found themselves winning in the final round of the regatta. Hansine Marshall of University of St Andrews BC used her coastal sculling experience and strength to power through the wind in the final rounds and bring home the clubs first ever trophy at Henley Women’s Regatta, a strong statement under the new guidance of coach Lewis McCue, winning the Bernard & Pauline Churcher Cup for Aspirational Single Sculls.

Lewis later said “I’m really proud of the performances this weekend from all the women representing University of St Andrews. Hansine showed resilient and mature racing across the 3 days, an incredible feat for her first season in the sport.”

Prizegiver, Emily Craig, Hansine and coach, Lewis McCue, photo credit: Lewis McCue 

Elsewhere, University Rowing Aberdeen & Aberdeen Schools RA graduate, Abigail Topp added to her impressive collection of HWR medals by winning the Ron Needs Challenge Cup for Championship Eights in the Leander, Durham University and University of London composite in a thrilling end to the regatta against the top crew from Thames RC.

Scottish Crews were a regular sight on Sunday afternoon, with Sam Gough (St Andrew BC) racing in the final of the PR3 Single Sculls, aiming to defend her title from 2024, but losing out to a talented sculler from Rob Roy BC following a record entry for the event in 2025. Heather Taylor (Strathclyde Park RC) raced as part of the GB U23 Composite in the final of the Championship Quadruple Sculls, coming up short to a classy crew from Reading University. Glasgow University BC’s Ava Robertson put up an admirable fight as she battled to the final of the Aspirational Lightweight Single Sculls where she fell to a strong sculler from Worcester RC; and as mentioned previously, the crew of Lauren Murray, Elle Sutherland, Veronika Vohnikova and Robyn Patrick of Clydesdale ARC were runners up in the Aspirational Quadruple Sculls.

St Andrew BC had a strong presence on Sunday afternoon where both the Championship Pair of Maia Hely & Anna Fisher as well as their Aspiration Club Eight made it to the semi-finals of their respective events.

Full results for the regatta can be found HERE

Many of our clubs will now turn their attention to preparing their crews for Henley Royal Regatta over the next two weeks, where Scottish Rowing will once again be hosting the Scottish Rowing HRR Reception during the Lunch Interval on Thursday 3rd July at Henley Cricket Club. If you’re interested in attending, then please complete the RSVP form