Division 1: 9:00am - Division 2: 10:40am - Division 3: 12:20pm - Division 4: 2:00pm
The Winter League is a series of three head races held on the river Cam, Cambridge, during the winter months of the year. The winner for each category is the crew with the fastest aggregate time over all three legs. The course is 2,600 meters upstream from the A14 bridge to 'Top Finish' at Green Dragon footbridge. Crews can enter any or all legs of the race.
Draw and results (no results on RowClock this year)
WhatsApp Group for race announcements. We will post important race announcements and Winter League news over a WhatsApp group (announcements only). At least one member of each crew should join.
Please contact winterleague@crarowing.co.uk with any enquires.
Though forecast conditions are cold, we are currently planning to go ahead as usual. If weather forces a change/cancellation, we will announce this first via WhatsApp: race announcements WhatsApp group
Notes to competitors
Please make sure that all competitors (and parents of juniors) have read these notes to competitors, safety and risk assessments, which are available here: notes to competitors
You must make your own assessment of the conditions, taking into account the experience of your cox and crew, and may choose to withdraw for safety reasons at any time for a full refund. Junior coaches and small boats are reminded that all juniors and small boats are expected to have their own bank party on cycle with appropriate safety equipment including a throw line. Capsize in freezing conditions is extremely dangerous.
Visiting crews, if you are unfamiliar with the Cam, please discuss the current conditions with a local rower, or feel free to email winterleague@crarowing.co.uk for a chat about the weather.
We've also circulated a safety update with specific notes one:
Wind, rain and ice
Cold and hypothermia
Boating safely on land
The provisional draw is now available here.
Please email us if you require any changes to the assigned divisions. We arranged the starting order for leg one based on the crews' own estimated course times and an average of historical times for the category. If you'd like to request a change to your starting position in the draw, please let us know. On the day of the race, crews can ask the starting marshals if they wish to adjust their starting position, especially for small boats who want to start towards the bottom of their division.
We have moved the categories of some crews where there was no available competition. Let us know if you have any other suggestions for category changes. The draw also clearly marks which categories are eligible for pots (as set out in the entry information).
Entries for the 2026 edition of the Winter League will open at 9am on Friday 12 December 2025.