THE RACERS

The Racer Programme is a joint initiative between Hartpury University and College Boat Club, and Gloucester Rowing Club. 

As part of the Gloucestershire Development Academy the Racers Programme acts as a tailored performance hub for individuals aged 14 to 18 years of age who live in the local Gloucestershire area who don't currently study at Hartpury College. We welcome both current rowers and those who are new to the support, by offering a Learn to Row pathway which then sets those individuals up to compete with the athletes on the performance pathway.

Individuals are able to join our Racer Programme from their J14 summer season, aiming to set them up and prepare them for their J15 season and onwards with us. 

The Racers enjoy almost all of the benefits of being a student at Hartpury, from training facilities at Hartpury, to training abroad on camps such as Rotterdam, NL, or Hazewinkel, BEL.

Please contact our Pathway Coach Tom Jenkinson for more information.

Since the Racer's introduction, the programme has produced many international athletes and national medallists.

Flo Pickles, a racer for 2 years with Hartpury, in Flo's first year with Hartpury she represented the Great Britain Rowing Team at U19 level at the European Championships, World Championships, and Munich International as well as a Henley Royal Regatta. In Flo's second year she topped this again whilst repeating her representations at the U19 World Championships, but also representing on U23 level at an International event in Germany. Again in her second year winning Henley with Hartpury. Since then she has gone to represent Great Britain at U23 with numerous successful wins.

Fergus Woolnough, a racer for Hartpury Rowing for two years, a member of the College team for two years, and a member of the University team for a year. Across Fergus' time with Hartpury he had numerous Henley Royal Regatta, National Schools, and BUCS medals. Achieving his first BUCS medal whilst still in his 2nd year of College. Fergus is the current U23 World Rowing Champion in the M8+, and current Henley Royal Regatta winner in the Temple Challenge Cup.

"I learnt to row at Hartpury as part of their Racer Programme, they taught me so much about the sport and helped me fall in love with it. It truly developed me into the athlete I am today. From learning to row on the canal with Hartpury, to now U23 World Champion, I couldn't have asked for a better pathway to get me to where I am today."

Chloe Sheppard, joined the Hartpury Racer programme as a Learn to Row where she spent a year building up her skill and confidence levels, before she joined Hartpury College in September 2022.

In Chloe's first year with us at the College, she attended her first U19 GB Trials process. Over the course of the year she worked her way up the rankings until Summer where she was selected to represent the Great Britain Rowing Team at the U19 World Rowing Championships in the W4x-, in which she achieved a silver medal. At Chloe's first ever National Schools Regatta she placed 2nd in the Women's Championship Single event.