Eight crews make history in the third year of the Youth Boat Race
Around 100 young riders from fourteen schools in the district took to the River Thames, racing in the Championship Course in front of cheering crowds.
On Friday 3rd April 2026, eight mixed crews of young rowers from fourteen London borough schools took to the River Thames for the third annual Youth Boat Race, competing on the first leg of the historic Boat Race Course on one of the most celebrated days in the youth calendar.
Sponsored by the Oxford and Cambridge Rowing Foundation (OCRF), and run by Fulham Reach Boat Club, the event opened up the Putney-to-Mortlake great course to a new generation, with around 100 student athletes – many of them new to the sport – racing across the river which hosted the CHANEL J12 Boat Race the following day.
Earlier in the week, Fulham Reach BC also hosted the first ever Adaptive Boat Race Challenge, where sepsis survivor Becky Coleman rowed the 6.8km Championship Course in just 33 minutes.
The day started with safety issues before the crew started from Fulham Reach BC and completed time trials to set up the race plan, with just eight seconds separating the rest of the crew. Four consecutive races followed, the first of which saw a brief conflict between the crews before the race descended into an exciting series of contests, with each race ending in successive teams.
Each fight was met with voices from more than 100 parents, supporters and friends of the participating schools; a fitting reward for athletes who train hard and run with everything they have.
The Youth Boat Race sat at the heart of the full day’s action on the Tideway, with the Lightweight and Veteran Boat Races also taking place on the same day, with crews from Oxford and Cambridge training close to Saturday’s event. Parents and supporters could follow the action from Fulham beach, with Channel 4 and FilmNova covering the event for their Boat Race day coverage.
For many young surfers, just being on the water was the culmination of months of commitment. For schools new to the event, it was their first taste of competitive rowing; for returning workers, the opportunity to go better than last year. The Championship Course, before one of the most prestigious competitions in sports, gave every athlete the opportunity to have a greater chance of crossing the finish line.
The atmosphere near the bank was electrifying, supporters, teachers, and local dignitaries cheered the eight workers back home. Award presentations and all-day festivities – an unforgettable event for athletes, coaches, and schools alike.
Adam Freeman-Pask, CEO of Ffulham Reach BC, reflected on the event: “Youth Boat Race is always a great day, and this year was no exception. I can see all the crew today showed our values: cooperation, patience, and courage to race. We are proud of each and every one of them.
The deputy mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham, Daryl Brown, added: “It’s a shame, I’m very impressed with the students.
A teacher at Hammersmith Academy described the change he saw in his students as follows: “The children were able to become more independent and confident because of this program.
The young athletes were equally enthusiastic. One of the participants thought: “It’s exciting, and it’s really good because it’s a sport for the whole body.” It was really nice to have a closer relationship with everyone on our boat.
One parent said: “The first thing my daughter said to me when I arrived was ‘this makes me want to do more’.”
Participating Schools:
- Kensington Never Academy
- Sacred Heart High School
- Hammersmith School
- Cardinal Vaughn Memorial School
- Fulham School for Boys
- West London Free School
- Fulham Cross School for Girls
- Holland Park
- University of Wimbledon
- Graveney School
- St Richard Reynolds Catholic College
- Ursuline High School
- Richmond Park Academy
- Newham Schools
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