Rowing Races on the River Ouse

Sunday 23rd November saw the latest annual 'Small Boats Head' race on the River Ouse, with 240 crews racing from Fulford to King's Staith.

This particular race has been run on the River Ouse for over 100 years.

The competing crews saw all four seasons in this year's race with extremely bright sunshine and torrential rain which created extra challenges for them on the course. 

The fastest women's crew of the day was York City Rowing Club's coxless team of four, made up of: Olivia Jones, Emily Nelson, Beth Ravilious and Ally Davie.

This 'sweep' crew (four rowers, four oars/'blades') completed the three kilometre  course against all of Mother Nature's obstacles in a speedy 13 minutes and 13 seconds.

The fastest open crew was from Royal Chester Rowing Club with a coxless squad(four rowers with two blades each).

York City Rowing Club can claim some of this team's success too because club Chairman, Phill Press and his wife, club member Phillippa Press's son Edward was rowing in the Chester crew.

Each of the winning crews received some vintage trophies from YCRC(which they will have for a year) and they also got to enjoy a free dinner from the race's sponsor, Lil's Bistro to celebrate their victory.

You can read the full list of race results here.

Chris Polack and Anna Heathcote ran the event alongside 100 volunteers.

Speaking on the race, they said: "It was great to see York City participants and members from every squad, family and friends coming together to somehow make it all run smoothly."

"Thank you to everyone who came out and raced and made Small Boats Head happen."

York Small Boats Head is one of the most significant sources of revenue for York City Rowing Club.

The fundraising from the event alongside membership fees allows the club to maintain their fleet of boats and the building. 

It also enables them to support hundreds of members of the community on their rowing journey from juniors to rowing masters.

York City Rowing Club are keen to get more involved with the local community.

They are currently helping other local organisations campaign around water safety in York.

YCRC plan to open indoor rowing opportunities to York in early 2026 with a new course in 'erging' - using rowing machines.

Their next boat race on the River Ouse is the 'Yorkshire Head' which will take place on Saturday 17th March 2026.

About York City Rowing Club

YCRC is a community rowing club in the heart of York, based next to Lendal Bridge.

Their first regatta dates back many years to October 1843.

The club has several hundred members including juniors from local schools, senior rowers and rowing masters.

They have produced an Olympic gold medallist and winners at national and international levels.

Click here if you would like to learn how to row with the club.