Coming soon!
We’ll be updating this page soon with details of the 2026 Ely Head Race.
The course
The full course is 5km upstream on the River Great Ouse, starting from Littleport and finishing just downstream of Queen Adelaide Bridge. For novice and some junior competitors from 2023 we are reintroducing a 3km division starting at the junction with the River Lark. Both courses are held on a famous stretch of wide, straight, river, previously featured in Rowing and Regatta magazine as one of the 10 best places to row in the world, and used for the Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race in both 1944 and 2021. There is plenty of room for overtaking!
From the course finish at Queen Adelaide Bridge, it is a gentle warm-down paddle of 1.5km to the landing stage at Isle of Ely Rowing Club.
UPDATE
Details for the 2026 race will appear here soon.
How it operates
The race is held under British Rowing Rules of Racing and entry is made on line via BROE. Racing will take place in three divisions: 9am, 11:30am and 2pm. Please see the event poster for details of which boat classes will race in each division. Crews will launch from and return to Isle of Ely Rowing Club.
How to find Isle of Ely Rowing Club
Directions to the club can be found here.
Entries should be made via the BROE system here.
Competitor Information
Competitor information for the 2026 event will be published here when ready.
Ely
12:15 am,
May 20, 2026
13°C
broken clouds
Ben Rodford
Jason Harre