Matt Jones On Rowing & Henley Royal Regatta
Matt Jones rowed with the University of Gloucestershire while studying Sport and Exercise Sciences (2019–2022). He competed at BUCS Regatta 2021, reaching the B final in the Intermediate Lightweight single. Matt has rowed at Gloucester Rowing Club since 2012 and still has strong ties to UoG Rowing.
Matt was part of a crew of four men from Gloucester Rowing Club that competed at Henley Royal Regatta (HRR) earlier this summer! He spoke to us about the crew's history and journey to HRR 2025.
“Our crew formed in September 2023, with members having rowed for Oxford, Brooke’s, Lancaster, and Durham. Stroke-man Alex and I have rowed together on and off for over a decade, winning the Open Club Double pennant at the 2023 Pairs’ Head. We narrowly missed qualifying for the Double Sculls Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta 2024.”
Jones explained the experience of qualifying for Henley Royal Regatta as “unique” and “cut-throat”. To be eligible for Henley, some crews can pre-qualify based on their performance in the lead-up to Henley. Other crews, like Matts, must undergo the gruelling process of 2000m time trials to fight for a spot at the Regatta. Matt’s crew qualified for the Wyfold Challenge Cup (Men’s coxless four), and it was no easy thing. “67 crews competed for 32 spots, with 16 pre-qualified.” After months of hard work, they were triumphant and qualified, the first Gloucester crew in 12 years to do so!!
But the fight was not over yet. In the draw, they were pitted against tough competition. “We were drawn against a seeded Vesta Rowing Club crew, coached by double Olympic champion James Cracknell.” The men pushed on hard and strong throughout the whole race. The banks of the Stewards were loud with applause as Gloucester and Vesta rowed through. After a long race, Vesta Rowing Club took the win by 2¼ lengths.
Matt concluded, saying, “Despite the result, racing at Henley and being part of its legacy is an unforgettable experience.”
We at UoG are incredibly proud of the rowers in this crew, and they prove as an example to us all that it doesn’t matter where you come from, with time, dedication and a good group of friends, you can achieve wonders and go far!!
Thank you to Matt Jones for allowing us to share such an incredible experience!
