Winter Season round up with Upper Thames RC
Upper Thames are a young club compared to the histories behind many rivals, this is often forgotten due to how they punch above their weight. Both Men’s and Women’s squads have competed at the highest club levels, winning two events at HRR in 2014, and multiple wins at Henley Women’s Regatta.
“As an entirely amateur club with no paid coaches” said club captain Nick Horne “we are proud of the results from all of our squads, and it’s exciting to be able to support our athletes with first class racing equipment right across the board. Our latest addition W8+ from Janousek & Stämpfli Boats has been an instant hit and has taken our Women’s athletes right into the mix of the competitive group with the major clubs across the country.”
In 2024 the women’s first 8+ Set an impressive 19th in the Womens Eights Head of the River Race (WEHORR), to finish with the UKs top open and academic club. It would be a hard position to hold in 2025, as a non-Olympic year where squad athletes return to their home club to race the Championship Course.
“The Upper Thames women squad have really enjoyed racing our Stämpfli 8+. The boat undoubtedly contributed to our results. Really easy to row in Tideway conditions but also on our home water back in Henley” said Fi Gammond, Olympian and World Champion.
On Saturday 8th March 2025 two UTRC crews raced the WEHORR, both in their Stämpfli boats. Undeterred by the increased competition, Upper Thames first 8+ climbed to 17th place. Competing amongst the big names; GB squad members, aspiring international athletes, top clubs and renowned universities. The Masters crew followed the impressive results, to win the sought after Masters Pennant.
The Masters Head of the River Race followed a fortnight later, and Upper Thames further demonstrated their speed, as the fastest women’s crew of the day. Becks Sadler stroked the Upper Thames masters crew “The margin was certainly helped by the opportunity to race in a Stämpfli 8+, the hull provided a fast and smooth platform through the ever changing river conditions and was the perfect hull size for the mostly lightweight crew. It was the game changing factor”
