Racing Spirit On The Ouse

On Saturday, 7th September crews from 14 fixed-seat rowing clubs arrived to grey clouds and persistent drizzle shrouding Newhaven Port in Sussex for the 2024 edition of the Head of the Ouse.. The clubs and their twenty boats, including Bursledon gigs, Celtic longboats, and Cornish Pilot gigs came from all over the south coast, and from as far as Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight, to compete in two 10km timed races. The first race upriver to Lewes was for open and mixed crews, while the downriver race was for all-women crews.

Photo credit: James Trebble

Thankfully, the incessant drizzle stopped around an hour before the first race set off, and the sun was even seen later in the afternoon, while a gentle breeze whispered along the Ouse. Boats were set off individually, with the slowest class going first and faster boats following at thirty-second intervals. Overtaking was possible along most of the river, except in designated hazard zones ahead of a couple of bridges along the course. The hazard zones added an extra element of strategy, with coxes and crews needing to push to overtake in good time before the next bridge. At the end of the race, crews’ course times were adjusted using the Ouse Yardstick, with the handicapped times determining the overall Head of the Ouse winners.

This year, Lewes Rowing Club took the honours in the open and mixed categories in their triple skiff, Gecko, and cutter, Betty, while Langstone Cutters Rowing Club won the women’s Head of the Ouse in their Solent galley, Langstone Lady.

Rachel from Langstone Cutters said, “This was our first Head of the Ouse and it will certainly not be our last! What a great event with open crews rowing upstream and then ladies back down through the beautiful backdrop of the South Downs with bacon baps, good beer, and cakes at either end.”

Prizes were also awarded for the swiftest boat of each class represented by two or more boats, using the combined upriver and downriver race times to identify the winner.

Photo credit: Martin Sinnock

Swiftest Boats

• Bursledon gigs — Tudor Sailing Club — Navigator
• Cornish Pilot gigs (GRP) — Langstone Pilot Gig Club — CShel
• Cornish Pilot gigs (wooden) — Affinity Rowing Club — Grace O’Malley
• Celtic longboats — Dell Quay Sailing Club — Seafox

Certificates were awarded to the fastest crew on handicap by gender and age category (based on the average age of those rowing). For the first time, a ‘Legends’ crew, whose average age must be 70+, competed in the event. Lewes Pilot Gig Club’s mixed ‘Legends’ crew completed the upriver race in just over fifty-five minutes.

Keith from Yarmouth Gig Rowing Club said, “It was wonderful to row through the South Downs! The event was well organised, with an army of volunteers providing help and information; hot drinks, delicious food (especially the bacon rolls), and great support and encouragement on the water.”

The Head of the Ouse will return in the autumn of 2025 for its fifth edition. Entries will open in the new year — for more information, check out the event website here.