Filippi crews delivered a series of strong performances at the 2026 Head of the River Race, securing pennant victories and recording competitive finishes across multiple categories on the Championship Course. From pennant winners at the front of the field through to junior and masters category leaders, the breadth of results once again underlined the depth of support for Filippi shells across British club rowing.
The Head of the River Race – the men’s counterpart to the Women’s and Schools’ Heads held earlier in the month – brings together hundreds of senior eights from clubs and universities across the country for the 4¼-mile row from Mortlake to Putney, making it one of the largest and most prestigious processional races on the calendar. Finishing positions and category pennants carry considerable weight as crews look ahead to the regatta season, and it was particularly encouraging to see Filippi boats featuring prominently throughout the results.
The headline result for Team Filippi came in the Page Trophy, the competition for the leading Provincial Club crew. Marlow Rowing Club’s A crew crossed the line in a time of 17:23.9 to retain the trophy, finishing 11th overall and fourth in the broader club field. It is a reward for the sustained investment Marlow has made in its senior men’s programme and a result that the whole club will take enormous pride in. Also flying the Filippi flag were Kingston Rowing Club, who finished third
Also claiming a pennant was Agecroft Rowing Club, whose A crew took the Jackson Trophy for the fastest provincial Club eight for the second successive year with a time of 17:53.6. Finishing 34th overall and 14th in the club category, the investment the Manchester-based club has made in its senior squads is beginning to pay dividends. The City of Cambridge and St Andrew Boat Club were third and fourth in this category whilst also racing in Filippi shells.
In the academic events, Hertford College Boat Club secured the Small Academic Pennant (awarded to the fastest small-college crew), finishing in 19:35.1 and placing 171st overall. For a smaller college boat club to claim a national pennant in a Filippi shell is a testament to what focused coaching and a good hull can deliver, and it is a result that will resonate well beyond the college’s boathouse.
Completing Filippi’s pennant tally for the day, London Rowing Club’s I crew won the Masters D Pennant in a time of 19:41.6, finishing 183rd overall and 86th in the club rankings.
Beyond the pennant winners, several other Filippi crews recorded results worth highlighting. In the Junior Eights, Dulwich College produced a strong performance, finishing fifth in the category. The pennant was won by St Paul’s School, followed by Shiplake and Westminster School.
In the Club Junior category, Walton Rowing Club and Marlow Rowing Club both raced in Filippi shells, adding further depth to the brand’s representation in the junior club events. Meanwhile, Vesta Rowing Club competed in a Filippi hull in the Club Beginner category (traditionally attracting a large and enthusiastic fleet), and it was great to see one of the Tideway’s most historic clubs flying the Filippi flag in the development events.
Four pennant or trophy wins from a single head race represent a compelling day out for Team Filippi, and the spread of those wins (provincial club, junior club, small academic and masters) reflects the diversity of the Filippi customer base across British rowing. We look forward to following all of these crews as the season develops and wish every Filippi-hulled programme the very best as they prepare for the summer.
