Filippi had a stunning opening bow for the 24/25 racing season, with 34 different crews finishing inside the top three of their respective categories at the Pairs Head of the River. Held between Chiswick Bridge and Harrods Wall, the race was attended by over 300 competitors nationwide, including many who had not yet raced in this domestic season, given the swathe of cancellations. Filippi took home 18 category wins in a reaffirmation of our position as the UK’s leading boatbuilder.
Our first victory came in the open championships pairs, where London Rowing Club took home the victory over their clubmates and a crew from Germany. London are gunning for Henley Royal Regatta glory in 2025 after a disappointing campaign last season, and this was the ideal way to kickstart their season. We also emerged triumphant in the open senior and intermediate pairs, as Cantabrigian Rowing Club and Walton Rowing Club took the respective wins.
Open club doubles was secured via Thames Rowing Club, whilst Monmouth Rowing Club finished second in a Filippi. St Paul’s School picked up where they left off in the summer, securing positions one, two and three in the open junior 18 pairs. The winning crew – which contained junior international Alp Karadogan – and the second-placed outfit both raced in Filippi shells. We also picked up a third-placed finish in mixed doubles thanks to Nottingham Rowing Club.
On the open master’s side, wins were collected in mixed masters B/C doubles (Greenbank Falmouth Rowing Club), mixed masters F/G doubles (Dart Totnes Amateur Rowing Club), open masters C doubles (Leicester Rowing Club) and open masters D doubles (City of Cambridge Rowing Club). In the latter category, London Rowing Club finished second in a Filippi too.
On the women’s side, our headline victory came in the championships pairs with London Rowing Club, who won their category by four seconds over a Boat Race-winning combination from Cambridge University. We also secured a win in the women’s intermediate and club doubles with Worcester Rowing Club and Vesta Rowing Clubs respectively (alongside a second-placed finish in the latter with Cantabrigian Rowing Club).
Walton Rowing Club won the women’s masters B doubles before we secured a one-two-three in the women’s masters C doubles, riding with Bewl Bridge Rowing Club, Walton Rowing Club and Tideway Scullers School. Women’s masters D club doubles was secured by Mortlake Anglian & Alpha Boat Club before Eton Excelsior Rowing Club won the women’s masters E doubles. Tideway Scullers School won the women’s masters F doubles before going on to also win the women’s masters G/H doubles.
This was a breathtaking way to start our season, with so many Filippi-bound crews racing to high rankings on the Tideway. We cannot wait to see how the various narratives unfold over the coming season and are looking forward to seeing many of you on the riverbanks over the next few months.
