Strong performances at the Heineken Roeivierkamp 2025

Once again, Thames travelled to Amsterdam in the week between the Tideway heads to race at the Heineken Roeivierkamp - two days of exciting racing in the heart of Amsterdam.

The trip proved a resounding success, with strong results and everyone enjoying themselves in bright but chilly conditions on the Amstel over the four distances contested: back-to-back 2,500m and 250m, followed on Sunday by a 5,000m race and a 750m race later in the day.

Both the men’s and women’s second 8s came away with wins in the intermediate categories. The women’s 2nd 8 started out with an excellent row in the 2,500m followed by a decent 250m sprint. On day 2, they again showed their speed over distance in the 5,000m, and did enough in the 750m to bring home the medals. The women’s 3rd 8 was a strong ninth overall in the intermediate category

The men’s 2nd 8 also laid down the markers in the distance races, with convincing wins in the 2,500m and 5,000m distances, and were fast enough on the sprints to take a fairly comfortable overall victory. The club’s strength in depth was underlined by sixth for the 3rd 8 and 10th for the 4th 8.

In the elite events the Thames 1st 8s were up against the cream of Dutch rowing, as well as UK competition from Oxford University and Molesey. On the women’s side, an outstanding 250m sprint which was close to the course record put them ahead of the Netherlands at the end of day 1, and a solid 5,000m took the Thames women into the final event with a very narrow lead on points over the Dutch crew, containing four Olympic champions. The Netherlands took the win after a strong 750m, with Thames finishing an excellent second overall.

The men’s 1st 8 rowed two solid distance pieces, but were particularly strong in the sprint events, finishing 0.9 seconds down on a classy Dutch composite both times. Overall, they finished third, narrowly behind the Oxford men’s Blue Boat.

The women’s 4th 8 competed in the intermediate ‘B’ category. They won both the distance races, but were unable to catch Swiss club Belvoir in the sprint events.

On the masters side, the women were easily the fastest masters A boat, and were second overall in the masters category behind a Dutch composite including several former internationals. The men’s masters were ninth.

Thanks to all the organisers of the Roeivierkamp for a fun weekend!