Henley Royal Regatta 2025 🏆
For the third time in five years, Headington School Oxford Boat Club has claimed the Prince Philip Challenge Trophy at @henleyroyalregatta — and in a new record time 💙
Behind the scenes, this victory reflects a whole-school effort:
- Supportive families who back the athletes and the school every step of the way.
- A school environment that champions balance and high achievement both academically and in sport.
- Teachers, tutors, and pastoral staff who understand the demands of performance sport and help lay the foundation for success.
- Teammates past and present who continue to shape a legacy within the club.
@headingtonryeoxford is an academic school, with high expectations of its athletes. Thank you to the teachers, form tutors, housemistresses and staff who supported this team.
Huge thanks to the coaching team.
💙 And to the U6th leaders who leave the club better than they found it.
Lastly, a massive thanks to these young women, both in the crew and in other HSOBC crews who support each other, and push each other on.
#HenleyRoyalRegatta #HRR2025 #PrincePhilipChallengeTrophy #HSOBC #Rowing #BritishRowing #SchoolRowing #Teamship #CultureOfExcellence
As the dust settles on @henleyroyalregatta 2024, it’s important to acknowledge the immense dedication and hard work these young @headington_sch women have put into this campaign 💙
The campaign was built on a collective effort involving people and the environment:
- The unwavering support from parents and families at every stage of the campaign.
- The strategic guidance and support from the school senior management team in creating a scholar athlete environment.
- The teachers and form tutors who have wholeheartedly supported these athletes all year and enabled them to be successful both academically and in sport.
- As we said in after the win in 2021, and a sentiment that has since been echoed by many, “good people make great teams.” To this, their team mates who have pushed them, raced with them, supported them and cultivated a Team-ship environment.
- importantly it’s the athletes who saw through the tough times. Did the work & did what was necessary to deliver this performance: that being, looking after each other and empowering the team to a close nit group. Special thanks to Helena, Ali, Alice and Emma who, as U6th formers led the team in the best possible way 💙
Thanks to the coach @ryandemaine and Head of Rowing @coach_chrishermes . Thanks too to senior squad coaches @ryans211 Seager and @tom_.symington who worked as senior coaches within the campaign.
#henleyroyalregatta #rowing @britishrowing
Winners of the inaugural Junior Womens' Eights at Henley Royal Regatta.
Thank you everyone who came out to support the girls this week and to everyone who cheered on from home.
#BleedBlue💙
A great day of racing for HSOBC at the Junior Sculling Head 2026. The last head race of the season saw the girls take on two 1900m runs at Dorney Lake and a great set of performances by the girls.
WJ18 4x - 2nd 🥈& 26th / 39
WJ17 4x - 2nd 🥈 / 18
WJ16 4x - 5th, 22nd & 34th / 51
WJ15 8x+ - 3rd 🥉 / 12
WJ15 4x+ - 4th & 31st / 64
WJ14 8x+ - 6th / 36
WJ14 4x+ - 1st 🥇 / 54
A huge well done to everyone who raced 💙
GB 🇬🇧 Spring Assessments 2026
10 of our own 💙 have qualified for the GB spring assessments making up nearly 25% of all the girls invited - 7 of whom have been rowing at Headington since at least J14.
@headingtonrye_sports@britishrowing@headingtonryeoxford
Women's Eights Head of the River Race 2026
Four HSOBC crews took to The Championship course at the Women's Head competing against 304 womens crews including 29 U19 crews. The girls produced one of the best set of results Headington have seen at this prestigious race.
2nd VIII - 1st in School/Junior & 17th overall
1st VIII - 2nd in School/Junior & 20th overall
3rd VIII - 11th in School/Junior & 80th overall
4th VIII - 21st in School/Junior & 154th overall
There were also 17 Headingtonians racing for their respective clubs and universities and one coaching her university crew. It is always inspiring to see our old girls competing! A huge well done to all of you.
We also had several of the HSOBC community volunteering! Thank you so much for giving up your time to help run this amazing event!
💙
Schools Head of the River Race 2026
Six HSOBC crews took to the Tideway in London; coming away with a solid set of results. A huge well done to everyone who raced especially the J15s who were racing on the Tideway for the first time!
Girls Championship VIII - 2nd 🥈
Girls 2nd VIII - 1st 🥇 (4th fastest overall girls eight)
Girls J16 Championship VIII - 4th
Girls J16 2nd VIII - 3rd 🥉
Girls J15 Championship VIII - 4th
Girls J15 2nd VIII - 4th
“The most exciting junior women’s sweep season for a generation.” 👇
Held on the start due to the previous delayed race, tensions were high between Shiplake and Headington.
The top two all season: Headington at Schools’ Head, Shiplake at National Schools’ and back to Headington at Henley Women’s Regatta, but all eyes turned to Henley Royal Regatta for the final winner.
One final showdown.
Shiplake had the quicker start, punching through to find their feet faster, gaining the slightest of advantages through the Island stage. From there It was bowball to bowball until Headington found their stride around the Quarter Mile marker. They sat on a strong rhythm, rating 37, to draw out and start to lead, claiming two thirds of a length by Fawley, but not for long.
Shiplake stepped it up at Remenham Club, determined to overthrow Headington after a difficult HWR campaign, staying long and loose in each stroke they clawed back into the race and reduced the gap to just a quarter of a length at the Three-quarter Mile.
The response from Headington? Up one on the rate and keep moving. However, the Shiplake surge was strong; the lead was reduced to just three feet and less as both crews were roared through the Enclosures. It was stroke for stroke, approaching an almost photo finish. But the race wasn’t finished yet. A final gear, a last resort, absolutely everything left out on the course, and it was Headington’s race again.
A final verdict saw Headington take the victory by just a quarter of a length, a truly representative end to the exciting season we have seen this year in junior women’s sweep.
Will 2026 see Headington retain their crown?
Linked up with @hsobc_rowing 👆🏼🚣
Winners of the Prince Phillip Challenge Trophy for three out of five years since its introduction, Headington School Oxford Boat Club use the RP3 and the connection system in their training to help develop crew cohesion that translates onto the water 🙌🏼
What is the connection system?👇🏼
- The RP3 connection system allows multiple RP3 machines to be physically linked via the footplate and handles
- This setup simulates and reinforces the feeling of crews connecting and moving together on the water
- The connection system enables coaches and rowers to develop better crew cohesion on land that translates into performance on the water
If you’re interested in levelling up your land training with RP3, get in touch with us today 🔗
Four members of Headington Rye Oxford’s championship-winning boat club are taking their rowing skills all the way to the US after securing competitive university offers. 🚣♀️
They are among a number of students at the School with prestigious overseas offers, alongside those holding UCAS offers for top UK universities. 🎓
Find out more via the link in our bio.
#HeadingtonRyeOxford #BeWhoYouWantToBe #Rowing #University
So great to welcome our HSOBC alumnae for a Christmas get together in Headington. A lovely morning catching up with some familiar faces.
Wishing all our HSOBC alumnae community a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! 💙💙💙
@headingtonryeoxford
