Filippi started the 2025/26 season in the best possible fashion by emerging as the most successful boatbuilder at the 2025 edition of the Vesta Sculler’s Head of the River. Filippi shells took 45% of the wins, taking victories in 17 categories and placing 45 athletes into top-three positions.
Tom Wilkinson of Greenbank Falmouth finished third in the open championship category in a Filippi, whilst all three of the top performers in the women’s category raced in a Filippi. Georgie Robinson-Ranger of Leander Club took the overall win, earning herself an invite to the Wingfield Sculls in the process, whilst Poppy Baker of Nottingham Rowing Club placed second, and Daisy Faithfull of the University of London was third.
James Beattie of Thames Rowing Club won open senior singles in a category that also saw Filippi finish second with Joe Middleton of the University of London. Jonathan Miles of St Paul’s School collected the open junior category, with Jack Frye of Westminster School placing third. The women’s equivalent category saw three Filippi shells close out the medal positions, with Ella McDougall of Barn Elms Rowing Club winning the pennant on home water. Behind her was Naomi Williams of Newark Rowing Club in second and Jess Kerbiriou of the Tideway Scullers School in third.
The open junior 17 category was won by Edward Ludgate of St Edward’s School, whilst Larissa Hainlein of the Tideway Scullers School won the women’s version. In third, and also in a Filippi, was Maya Weller of the American School in London.
Other notable Filippi women’s results came in the senior category (Rachel Grainger of Vesta Rowing Club finishing third) and the lightweight division, where Hazel Wake of the City of Oxford Rowing Club took the win, with Amelia Moule of Sudbury Rowing Club placing third.
A long-time stronghold with masters rowing, the open masters A category saw Filippi finish second whilst riding with James Stevenson of Thames Rowing Club. The masters B saw us collect silver and bronze via James Sanders of London Rowing Club and Sam Diserens of Upper Thames Rowing Club, respectively. Masters C was won by Alex Barnett of Hollingworth Lake, and David Smith of Nottingham Rowing Club finished second.
The club categories saw Vasil Mihov of Lea Rowing Club place second, whilst the women’s equivalent had Hope Cessford take the title for Thames Rowing Club ahead of Melissa Shaw of Shoreham Rowing Club.
Other category wins included open masters lightweight singles (Simon Hunt of Quintin Rowing Club), open masters E (Michael Duffy of the City of Bristol Rowing Club), open masters H (Slavo Radosevic of Quintin Rowing Club), open apprentice (Alfred Keech of the Watermen), open novice (Ben Trotman of Thames Rowing Club), women’s masters A (Jennifer Bailey of Mortlake Anglian and Alpha Boat Club) and women’s novice (Isabella Cassidy of Thames Rowing Club).
It was a fantastic experience to see so many athletes take to the water to kickstart the new season, and we cannot wait to support crews on their journeys throughout the next year.
