With thanks as ever to West Norfolk Rowing Club without whom this would scarcely be possible
Now that GOM 2025 is behind us (final results here) and of course huge thanks to competitors and volunteers alike for making it such a great event, you’ll be training for 2026, right? So to make sure you peak at just the right time, the date for the 2026 event is
See you then!
At 22km, this Isle of Ely Rowing Club event is the perfect warm up for the Autumn/Winter head race season.
On the first Sunday in September, the Isle of Ely Rowing Club hosts its annual contribution to distance rowing – the Great Ouse marathon. This rowing fixture first took place as an invitational event in September 2009 and has grown over subsequent years.
The marathon starts at West Norfolk Rowing Club to whom we owe a perennial vote of thanks for their help and participation. WNRC stands 50m upstream of the iconic Denver sluice that regulates the inexorable passage of the River Great Ouse to the North Sea. A car park next to WNRC provides space for cars, trailers and boat rigging, and it is from here that marshals from WNRC and IOERC organize crews for the start, just beyond WNRC. After a rolling start, competitors relax into their rowing and take solace in the calm of the Fens as they trace the gently winding Great Ouse upstream towards Ely.
Bridges, as well as strategically posted signs, function as distance markers along the course. Passing under the bridge at Ten Mile Bank, framed on one side by Fenland cottages, indicates 4km in the bag and another 11km to go before the A1101 road bridge, north of Littleport. Once under Littleport Bridge at 16.5km, there is only 5.5km of straight river to go (the course used for the 2021 University boat race) before the finish just before Queen Adelaide bridge.
Rowers who take part in the marathon come in all shapes and sizes, from experienced eights to novice fours to masters’ singles: all are welcome in this idyllic setting on the Great Ouse. A quiet back road (ideal for cycling) runs parallel with the river, enabling friends and relatives to check on a crew’s progress almost every step of the way.
Once across the finish line it’s a short paddle to the Isle of Ely Rowing Club where weary rowers are offered friendly assistance in lifting their boats from the water. There is plenty of opportunity to sit and recover and enjoy the stunning views of Ely Cathedral from the club, and to replace those lost calories with an assortment of refreshments, including a BBQ and cakes baked by members of IOERC.
As well as providing a great opportunity for training ahead of the Boston Marathon, the Isle of Ely Great Ouse marathon is also appropriate for those who have recently learned to row to test their mettle. Many novice rowers have taken up this challenge in the past and both juniors and seniors cross the finish line tired, but euphoric at just how far they have come.
If you are still unsure whether distance rowing is for you, I’ll leave you with the thoughts of Jeremy Heygate of Loughborough Boat Club who rowed in the marathon in 2012 and stated that it was
“hugely enjoyable … we had a brilliant time and loved the relaxed atmosphere and warm welcome”. He also added that it was great “to see your fabulous stretch of river at Ely on a warm sunny day! We reckon the 22km is a perfect distance”.
In 1944 the Oxford and Cambridge University boat race took place at Ely on the River Great Ouse, and this was repeated for the 2021 boat race during the COVID pandemic. On Saturday 28th February 2004, the 60-year anniversary of the 1944 boat race was commemorated at Ely. University veteran crews from both Oxford and Cambridge raced once more along the one-and-a-half mile course with Cambridge overturning the historical victory of Oxford. It was after this anniversary that the Isle of Ely Rowing club was formed.
A distance race was first run over the 21.5km between Denver sluice and Queen Adelaide Bridge north of Ely in the early 1980s. This was organised by Mark and Sue Edwards from the former Neptune Rowing Club. As Neptune was based at King’s Lynn at the north end of the course, crews raced from south to north, heading towards the host club’s base.
Although Neptune RC is no longer in existence, Mark returned to take part in the 2013 Great Ouse Marathon which provided him with an opportunity to row over familiar water and to promote his tireless efforts to raise money for brain tumour research.
The Isle of Ely Rowing Club was founded in 2004; and in 2009 resurrected the marathon as an invitation event under the enthusiastic guidance of Teresa Aslett. As the new host club was based at the southern end of the course, the direction was reversed, with competitors now racing from north to south.
The popularity of the event has grown over the years, and in 2012 it became a British Rowing open event. A feature article in the June 2013 issue of Rowing and Regatta magazine meant that 2013 was a bumper year, with entries from as far afield as Tyneside, the Welsh borders and Kent. 2014 saw an even larger field, with many competitors from previous years returning. Under ideal conditions, lots of record times were posted.
Contact your club Entry Secretary who can enter your crew via the BROE system here
The race is held under British Rowing Rules of Racing and entry is made on line via BROE.
There is a rolling start with boats set off at approximately 1 minute intervals; with the slowest boats starting first competitors are timed over the course.
Detailed race instructions will be sent to competitors with the draw.
The race passes through the Fens of rural Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.
The course is approximately 21.5km. Boats launch at West Norfolk Rowing Club, which is about 400m from the start. The finish is 100m before Queen Adelaide bridge on the road between Ely and Prickwillow.
It is then a gentle warm-down paddle of 1.5km to the landing stage at Isle of Ely Rowing Club for some welcome refreshments.
The course is upstream, but at the time of year the race is held there is very little current. The river is wide, with plenty of room for overtaking and only gentle bends. It is crossed by just 3 bridges which affect navigation, and which have safety marshals in attendance.
The second Littleport bridge signals 5km to go. This part of the course is a famous piece of wide, straight, river, previously featured in Rowing and Regatta magazine as one of the 10 best places to row in the world.
A risk assessment and safety guidance notes are made available to competitors at the time the draw is announced.
There are, however, general safety issues that all competitors need to be aware of:
Because of the nature of our river, as a club we insist that all our members have done a formal capsize drill, and that they carry a mobile phone and foil blanket in a waterproof container tied to their boat. We strongly advise competitors to do likewise and that all competitors are able to get themselves safely to the edge of a river unaided in the event of an accident or capsize. Some distance training is also advised!
The competitor documents for the 2025 Great Ouse Marathon are now available, please share with your crews and support teams:
Enter via the BROE system here.
British Rowing Day Tickets are available for this event.
Yes! You’ll be able to buy your Great Ouse Marathon t-shirt on the day. There’s a choice of red or yellow, and a range of sizes as usual – and you can order one to be posted if we run out of your size and colour on the day.
We welcome adaptive rowers, and already have course records for some adaptive categories.
We do however ask you to check out the section on safety, and satisfy yourself that you are happy with the conditions that exist on the course.
If you need help getting into your boat, getting a wheelchair up the ramp from the finishing pontoon etc – just ask any of the club’s marshals, who will be very willing to help.
Yes – and we know that touring rowers are probably more used to longer distances.
However, we would draw attention to the fact that the race is run under British Rowing Rules of Racing, and you must have BR Race Membership to compete. Entry is via the British Rowing Online Entry (BROE) system on their website. This system checks if you have the correct membership before it will accept an entry.
You may do, but please remember that the race takes part under British Rowing Rules, so we will limit to entries to recognised classes – including costal and traditional boats (gigs etc). However, we do reserve the right to refuse entry if we feel this would be detrimental to the race.
Check out the course records tab here
The nearest town to the start is Downham Market (West Norfolk District Council), and the nearest town to the finish is Ely (East Cambridgeshire District Council).
The District Councils provide listings of accommodation they approve: East Cambridgeshire and West Norfolk and there’s always your favourite search engine.
There is a Travelodge on the Ely bypass, however, being a rural area, most accommodation is small private hotels and B&Bs. If there is a large party, it is advisable to book early.
Looking further afield, Cambridge, which is 17 miles south of Ely, offers a wide range of accommodation.
The club is unable to make any specific recommendations.
By arrangement with our neighbours (W.A. Cooke & sons) we have some space for trailers on the Saturday night at the club. Best get in touch (via gom@elyrowingclub.org.uk) to confirm.
We run a regular shuttle back to WNRC from the IoERC during the event. You won’t have to row back (probably). Please be in touch to give us an idea of demand on the day.
The course records for the Great Ouse Marathon are listed here: GOM records to 2025.
Please note that due to the introduction of the new British Rowing Competition Framework & PRIs in 2018, the old Senior categories of Novice, IM3, IM2 etc are no longer applicable. The course records for these old categories are listed here: GOM records to 2017.
The final results for the Great Ouse Marathon 2024 are here.
The final results for 2025 are here.
9°C
Ben Rodford
Jason Harre