SRC in action
Abingdon Head of the River - April 2026
Abingdon Head of the River delivered just about every season in a single day, and amid the hail, high winds, rain, sunshine and even rainbows... what a day it was for Swindon Rowing club.
A standout result for club captain Rob and Henry: the fastest double overall and winners of the Men's Open 2x - a superb performance.
Swindon had three doubles and two quads on the water, including one crew rowing for only their second time together, with two members new to racing since learning to row... and they came within 20 seconds of the win!
A special thanks to Tomek and family for transporting the boats and generously sharing private boats with the squad, and to our brilliant supporters who stood through the weather and made sure everyone in Abingdon knew Swindon was there.
Proud, load, and only just getting started.
British Rowing: Coaching Team of the Year
We're proud to have collected British Rowing's Coaching Team of the Year award.
Presented by Frankie Allen MBE, with some of our brilliant coaching team there to receive it... and a pretty special moment meeting rowing and Olympic legend Sir Steve Redgrave.
A day we won't forget - thank you British Rowing, hosts London Rowing Club and Sir Steve Redgrave.
Picture courtesy of Ben Radford Photography.
Our small club is making big waves!
Swindon Rowing Club named British Rowing's Coaching Team of the Year 2025!
We're thrilled to be recognised for our warm, friendly, encouraging and inclusive culture.
British Rowing said of Swindon Rowing Club: "The impact of this coaching team is clear in the achievements of their learning rowers, a growing sense of belonging for all members, a growing pride within the town of the rowing success, and the club’s exponential growth.
In just over 18 months, the club has gone from under a dozen active members to over 40. This spirit of progress, community, and care makes their coaching team exceptionally deserving of this award.
By actively seeking, listening, and responding to feedback, the coaching team revitalised the Learn to Row programme, encouraging a broader range of novices with greater representation across age groups, genders, sexualities, nationalities and cultures. They are joined by a new coach to offer athletes with additional physical needs learning opportunities, which they plan to build on."
Coaching team pictured:
Top L-R: Kyran Foster, Sue Wald-Whittaker, Rod Minty, Maddie Mitchell
Bottom L-R: Court Clarkson, Duncan Hall, Rob Sinclair, Jo Barr, Jacob Allinson
We're back 'home' on Coate Water
While engineering work was carried out on Coate Water's structure during Autumn 2025 the lake had to be partially drained.
On top of the effects of a hot summer with little rainfall, it became impossible for us to get boats and athletes safely in and out of the water.
So, for a short while (almost two months), our regular training moved to the Cotswold Lakes Trust's Cleveland Lakes network.
With the return of the seasonal rain restoring water levels, we've also returned 'home' on Caote Water.
Gold at the World Masters Regatta 2025
Anna, Elle and Tomasz put Swindon Rowing Club on the global rowing community's radar at the World Masters Regatta with a gold.
At Master's level, medals are only awarded for the first rowers across the line. At the regatta in Banyoles in Spain in September 2025, our team recorded a series of impressive finishes, including while competing in international teams with others they had never rowed with before:
- Gold: Anna & Elle - Double Sculls Class C
- Second Place: Anna & Elle - Double Sculls Class B
- Second Place: Anna & Elle - Double Sculls Class A
- Second Place: Elle - Mixed International Class B with Krzysztof from Bydgoszcz in Poland.
- Third Place: Anna & Tomasz - Mixed Double Sculls Class C
Putting Swindon on the global rowing map
Even before Anna, Elle and Tomasz met British Olympic rowing legend Sir Matthew Pinsent at the World Masters Regatta, British Rowing sat down with Tomasz to find out how a chance meeting in a garage led to Swindon Rowing Club and the World Masters Regatta.
Success and stamina: The Great Ouse Marathon
Sam and Rob rowed 21.5km for the Great Ouse Marathon in Norfolk in September 2025.
Not only was completing the lengthy route from West Norfolk Rowing Club to the Ilse of Ely Rowing Club a show of stamina, but they completed it in just 1 hr 40 mins and 19 seconds making them the 9th fastest crew of the day and fastest in 2x Band 2 - winning the category.