Filippi recorded 17 wins at the 2023 Vesta Scullers Head of the River, the highest number of any boat-builder on the Thames. Our victories varied across age, gender and racing class but re-enforced Filippi’s status as the UK’s premier boat-builder for small shells.
Philip Wolfensberger of St Paul’s School was our highest-ranked sculler, finishing seventh overall and winning the Men’s School/Junior category by some 20 seconds over Byron Richards of Leander Club. Fresh off the back of a fourth-placed finish at the World Rowing Junior Championships, Philip will be looking to put in another strong performance at the Pairs Head of the River in a few weeks time.
Josh Lyon of Reading University Boat Club finished ninth overall and took the Men’s U23 title in a Filippi. He won the category by over 20 seconds.
Jamie Kirkwood of American School in London Boat Club won the Men’s Masters A category, finishing 14th overall after starting 191st. Jamie is a former British lightweight and former coach at Oxford University Boat Club.
M Long notched up Reading University’s second victory of the day, securing the win in the Men’s Lightweight division, eight seconds clear of his counterpart, J Bates.
Our next highest finisher was Max Fullman of Wycliffe Rowing Club. Having taken the women’s rowing scene by storm last season – securing big-ticket victories at the Schools’ Head of the River, National Schools’ Regatta and Henley Women’s Regatta – the club are now posting increasingly strong times on the men’s side. Max won the Men’s J16 category by over a minute.
Three seconds and two places back was Adam Ridler of Tideway Scullers School, who took the victory in the Men’s Masters B division.
Max Raymond-Barker of Lea Rowing Club won the Men’s Club category, finishing 59th overall. Eight places back, Mike Duffy of City of Bristol Rowing Club triumphed in the Men’s Masters E division.
Matt Yeksigian won Lea’s second pennant of the day, securing victory in the Men’s Novice class, some 17 seconds clear of his competition. Vigi Audinis is a decorated national sculler and continued to impress on the Tideway yesterday, securing the win in the Men’s Masters F category for Norwich Rowing Club.
Our first victorious female was Avril Walters of Molesey Boat Club, who took home the win in the Women’s U23 division. Behind her, Ella McDougall was a deserved winner of the Women’s J16 category, winning on home water by well over a minute.
Robert Milligan of Poplar Blackwall & District Rowing Club took the win in the Men’s Masters H category, finishing a second ahead of Francesca Lidlow of Thames Rowing Club who won the Women’s Novice title.
Carole Mills of Champion Of The Thames (Cambridge) Rowing Club raced a Filippi to win the Women’s Masters F category. Our final two victors on the day were Mehers of Wallingford Rowing Club, who won the Women’s Masters G division, and Al-Janabi of the Tideway Scullers School, who won the Women’s Masters H title.
