Brookes rowers triumph at Head of the River

We’re making history


Brookes rowers made history just before Easter by winning the Head of the River for the first time.

They managed to claim the University pennant and become the first full student crew to win in 50 years.

Director of Rowing, Richard Spratley said: “This is a massive result for the club and it’s been a long time coming – we knew after racing Oxford that we were going well, and thought we might be able to get the win. But it’s a testament to the hard work of the whole squad that we have achieved it.”

The 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams also did brilliantly leaving Brookes with four boats in the top 20, the most that a single boat club has ever been able to do.

Chief Coach, Henry Bailhache-Webb said: “When I started coaching at Brookes, I said to Richard that I wanted to win the Head of the River – and to achieve it is huge.”

And to cap off a fantastic season by the Brookes rowers, Spratley was also awarded the prestigious “Coach of the Year” by British Rowing’s Chairman Annamarie Phelps, and by GB Rowing lead coach Jürgen Grobler.

Not bad for the “2nd best” uni in Oxford.