Sunshine, side-by-side racing and standout performances south of the border.
While most of the club enjoyed the off season post Scottish Championships, a small Clydesdale contingent headed south for a two week stretch of elite competition on some of the UK’s biggest stages. The past month saw Clydesdale crews competing across three major regattas in England, with athletes at Henley Women’s Regatta, Marlow Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta.
With glorious summer weather, all regattas delivered fast racing and fierce competition, giving our athletes a true test against the best domestic and development crews.
Henley Women’s Regatta
Henley Women’s Regatta is one of the highlights of the club calendar and, once again, our senior and junior women rose to the occasion.
Aspirational Quad – The Chairman’s Trophy
In the Aspirational 4x, the crew of Robyn Patrick (stroke), Veronika Vohnikova (3), Elle Sutherland (2) and Lauren Murray (bow) qualified confidently before racing throughout the weekend.
- Friday: Defeated Loughborough Students by 9 seconds
- Saturday (Quarter-Final): Defeated Upper Thames by 10 seconds
- Sunday (Semi-Final): Held off Bath University in a thrilling race, winning by 1 second
- Sunday (Final): Faced the Strathclyde Park composite (Glasgow/Leeds/Nottingham/SPR), a GB development crew. The Clydesdale crew couldn’t overcome these tough competitors and a worsening headwind, finishing runners-up in a hard-fought final.
The result reflects a season of consistent progression, composure and teamwork. A huge well done to the crew for bringing Clydesdale to Finals Day and putting in a brilliant HWR campaign this season.
Aspirational Lightweight Single – The Fiona Dennis Trophy
In the Asp Lwt 1x, Rebecca Setford qualified strongly after bouncing back from injury earlier in the season. She drew the eventual event winner C. Jackson from Worcester in the first round and bowed out of the competition after a well-rowed race.
Qualifying for Henley Women’s just months after injury is a triumph in itself, a testament to Rebecca’s discipline, resilience and racing spirit.
A huge thank you to Coach Chris for his continued guidance, planning and support across all crews.
Junior Coxed Four – The Groton School Challenge Cup
Isabel Soyinka joined rowers from Glasgow University and St Andrew Boat Club in the Junior Coxed Four. The composite qualified successfully but faced tough opposition from Marlow RC in Saturday’s heat, bringing their regatta to an end. Nevertheless, racing at Henley Women’s is always an accomplishment and a key step for any aspiring young athlete. Well rowed to all involved.
Marlow Regatta
While Henley buzzed with women’s racing, the men’s squad took on Marlow Regatta at Dorney Lake – one of the final major tests before Henley Royal.
Fresh off the wins at Ghent and Met, Ben Parsonage lined up in the Championship 1x, finishing 2nd overall in a stacked field of domestic and international competition. A composed and clinical row from one of the UK’s top lightweight scullers, before his race at Henley Royal Regatta.
Also representing the club were Struan Stuart, Jack Bagley, Lukas Neilsen, Frank Murray who doubled up in both the Championship 4- and Tier 2 4x. In the four, the crew placed 8th in the C Final – a respectable result in a deep field. In the quad, they progressed to the B Final, finishing 7th, having shown real speed in the time trial. Valuable racing experience at a high standard, and the last for Frank Murray as a Clydesdale ARC member – thank you to Frank for his contribution to the club over the last few years!
Henley Royal Regatta
One week later, the club returned to Henley – this time for Henley Royal Regatta. Ben Parsonage lined up in the Diamond Challenge Sculls, one of the toughest single sculling events globally, known for attracting the best in the sport.
Ben qualified for the event and was drawn against Simon van Dorp of the Netherlands – Olympic medallist and winner of the 2024 Varese World Cup and Holland Beker.
Undaunted by Simon’s reputation, Ben flew off the start with bravery and aggression. In a moment that caught the attention of everyone watching, Ben led the Olympian off the Island, forcing van Dorp to glance over his shoulder to assess the situation. Though the Dutch sculler eventually edged ahead, it was a statement start and a proud moment for the club, showing that Clydesdale athletes can hold their own at the very highest level.
These regattas marked the culmination of months of focused training and racing. While not every race ended in a win, the determination, quality and professionalism shown across the board is something every member of Clydesdale ARC should be proud of. Well done to everyone involved!
Bring on the next one!