Kew House School Boat Club Makes History

Kew House School Boat Club Makes History with Landmark Victory at Schools’ Head!

Kew House School has secured a remarkable milestone in its sporting history, claiming its first ever victory at the prestigious Schools’ Head of the River Race (SHORR) on Friday 13 March. Widely regarded as one of the “big three” events in the national junior rowing calendar, the 80th edition of the race brought together the strongest school crews in the country along the Championship Course on the River Thames.

Following strong performances at Hammersmith Head earlier in the month, Kew House entered two boys’ Eights into the First and Second VIII categories. Racing conditions on the Tideway proved challenging, with a demanding combination of tail and head winds testing crews throughout the course.

The 1st VIII delivered an exceptional performance, racing with composure and determination to secure victory in the First Eights category. Finishing 15th overall and ahead of some of the most established programmes in the country— including Eton College’s top crew —the result marks a defining moment for Kew House rowing and reflects the commitment, resilience and hard work shown by the squad throughout the winter season.

The achievement has been widely recognised across the rowing community. British Rowing commented:
“There’s a new set of kids on the block. Kew House beat some of the titans of schoolboy rowing, including Eton on their way to a first ever School’s Head win. The sign of some awesome things to come.”

Team Filippi, supplier of the 1st VIII shell, also praised the performance:
“A standout performance from Kew House, who claimed victory racing in a Filippi shell. In a field packed with leading schools programmes, their row down the Tideway was one of Team Filippi’s strongest sweep results across the event and cemented their rise as a leading contender in schoolboy rowing.”

Junior Rowing News further underlined the significance of the result, noting:
“Open First Eights went to Kew House School in another statement of intent from this fast-growing programme.”

Kew House’s 2nd VIII also delivered a strong and competitive row, demonstrating the growing depth and strength of the programme and providing a promising indicator for the future.

This landmark victory is not only a celebration of success on the water, but a reflection of the ambition and upward trajectory of rowing at Kew House School. With a culture built on dedication, teamwork and high-performance training, the programme continues to establish itself among the very best in schoolboy rowing.

Attention now turns to the Junior Sculling Head on Monday 23 March, where multiple crews from across Kew House Boat Club will take to the water. With momentum firmly on their side, the squad looks ahead with confidence—focused on refining performance and continuing this exciting journey of growth and achievement.