Race Report – Great Ouse Marathon 2025

Quite a few months on, we’re still talking about it … the 2025 Great Ouse Marathon headwind was legendary!

Conditions were bright and more than a bit breezy, with a strong south-easterly causing standing waves and a fairly ‘lively’ experience. Apart from some tricky conditions, the Great Ouse Marathon on 7th September 2025 was a massive hit. Over 130 crews from more than 50 clubs rocked up at West Norfolk Rowing Club ready to tackle 22km of river. It is now officially an international event as we had crews from Germany and China take part.

There was a great turn out from Isle of Ely this year, with eleven crews taking part – including a J18 mixed 8x+ crew, who completed the course in a blistering 1h36m! Isle of Ely took home 3 pots for Michael Hill (MasE.1x), Izzy Boutwood (W.1x), and Amy Martin, Judy Mathie, Debbie Dekker and Jaqui Cornelissen (WMasC.4x). Despite the headwind, two Ely crews – the mixed J18 8x+ and our women’s coxed four – also managed to set course records for their categories. The full results and course records can all be found here.

At the finish, racing crews seemed more than usually pleased to see the Ely landing stages come into sight and for a helping hand off the water. Volunteers from Ely did a stellar job and the post-race buzz at the club was fab. As is traditional, competitors were able to celebrate their epic row with a GOM ’25 t-shirt – this year an excellent design by Sophie Marler.

Thanks to all volunteers, athletes, bakers, marshalls, umpires, parking champions, and supporters for making the GOM 2025 a huge success. And if you haven’t already, put Sunday 6th September 2026 in your diaries…