Cambridge Christmas Head 2025 – Rob Roy Lights Up the Cam

The Cambridge Christmas Head delivered exactly what this event exists for: cold fingers, warm spirits, questionable costumes, and a river absolutely packed with every flavour of Cambridge town rowing. The course was buzzing from first light as Rob Roy crews, parents and coaches navigated the winter drizzle and tried to keep festive jumpers dry long enough to actually race in them.

IAs it always is, this was a race where half the juniors race for the first time, the other half end up in completely new combinations and absolutely everyone comes off the water grinning. That’s the magic of this head, the competitive pressure is real, but the atmosphere feels like the entire town has collectively decided to enjoy itself for two hours in the middle of December.

Despite the chill (10° and damp, exactly the sort of weather that makes riggers slippery and parents cling fiercely to their coffees), the squad handled boating and landing with sharp efficiency. Boats appeared, raced, vanished, re-appeared and were put away neatly, an underrated, extremely race-day-critical skill that this group has clearly mastered.

What follows is a summary of the Rob’s results, but the real story is bigger:
all across the age groups, Robs crews were competitive, controlled and crucially well matched internally. Strength in depth is quietly being built, and days like this show it plainly.

A full photo gallery will sit beneath this article, capturing the river scenes, the bustle on the hard, the costumes (2 sets of Mario and Luigi for Robs, the first-race nerves and the whole colourful, frantic charm of the Christmas Head.

Race Results

J18 4x+

A dominant showing from the top end of the junior boys’ squad:

1st – Luca’s Crew – 8:39
Luka / Luca / Antek / Daniel H (cox: Henry – still only J15)
2nd – Dougie’s Crew – 8:43
Dougie / Sebastian W / Daniel L / Ari (cox: Mikhail – actually J16)

A four-second margin across two boats in this category says everything about how tightly matched these line-ups now are.

Open 2x

2nd – Oscar & Felix A – 8:43
Just 20 seconds behind winners who may have been seniors. A strong, mature row.

J15 2x

2nd – Luka & Luca – 9:12 (9 seconds off the winners)
3rd – Daniel H & Henry – 9:13

One second between the two Rob Roy doubles: again, depth and internal consistency.

J14 2x

1st – Younes & Theo – 9:56
Their first ever race, delivered with authority — 45 seconds clear of the next crew.

J14 1x (first-time singles)

2nd – Charlie – 10:05
3rd – Toby – 11:24
4th – Sam – 11:27

Throwing three young athletes into their first singles race is bold. They delivered.

WDEV 4x+

A brilliant showing from the development girls:

1st – “The Graces” Crew – 8:10
Grace DF / Edie / Maya / Evie (cox: Grace B)
With special thanks to Evie stepping in with less than 12 hours to race, reuniting the Brit Champs WJ14+ crew from last year. All our arm wishes to Lilly who still turned up on crutches despite spending most of Friday night in A&E.
2nd – Hettie’s Crew – 9:08
Violet / Eve / Iris / Ella (cox: Hettie)

Racing with confidence, presence and control — exactly what a development squad should look like.

WJ16 2x

4th – Amy & Imogen – 10:24
Their first race together, still finding rhythm, but committed to the line.

What the Day Meant

This event has always been a testing ground — not for medals, but for progress. For some, today was the first time racing a single. For others, the first time in front of marshals, sharing stations with senior clubs, or steering in less-than-ideal December weather.

Nearly every crew either won, placed, or was beaten only by another Robs boat or by being bumped into a higher age category.
That tells its own story.

Most importantly:
Everyone did themselves, and the club, proud.

Jo summed it perfectly: