Located on the banks of the River Thames, City of Oxford Rowing Club sits amongst the 39 clubs on a stretch known locally as The Isis, providing just under two thousand metres of water. On a sunny morning, a plethora of rowing crews, pleasure boats, passenger steamers, kayaks, and punts will be on the water, but after the club’s senior and junior squads finish their morning training, City of Oxford Rowing Club’s adaptive section takes to the water.
Catering for members of the local community with physical, learning, and sensory impairments, City of Oxford Rowing Club’s adaptive section allows a wide range of rowers to get out on the water, often with the help of a support rower and a network of volunteer coaches. CORC was a real trailblazer on the UK scene, and marked 25 years of adaptive rowing with a lunchtime row-past on the Sunday of Henley Royal Regatta in 2023. The club continues to introduce members of the community to the sport who would likely otherwise not be able to access such facilities, including through close ties with the Silverlining Brain Injury Charity, supported by Love Rowing. This partnership has successfully introduced rowers to the sport, who now continue to participate in the adaptive section, and the program’s popularity means that they now run a waiting list for new rowers looking to get involved.
As August rolls around each year, the club is abuzz with preparations for one of the country’s three Royal Regattas, nestled in the calendar between the illustrious Henley and the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regattas. Drawing crews from up and down the country time and again, City of Oxford Royal Regatta has made a name for itself as the jewel in the crown of adaptive racing in the UK, and this year sees its largest-ever adaptive entry, with 32 crews from eight clubs looking to compete for silverware. In another first, 2026 sees the introduction of an adaptive Victor Ludorum, 27 years on from the regatta’s first adaptive race, which took place in 1999. With adaptive events now included at British Rowing Club and Masters Championships, as well as the likes of BUCS and Henley Women’s Regattas, the growth in opportunity is certainly a real testament to the thriving community.
City of Oxford Royal Regatta’s Victor Ludorum trophy will be presented in memory of Andrew Weekes. He was a longstanding champion of adaptive rowing not only in Oxford, but in the country, who sadly passed away at the end of February 2026. Andy led the charge for the adaptive racing community, facilitating the first adaptive race in the UK, as well as attending the first British Rowing adaptive coaches meeting and inaugural Community Adaptive Group. Andy established the first rowing club for those with a disability affiliated to British Rowing in 1998, eventually merging with City of Oxford Rowing Club in 2012, and the group continues to thrive. He also provided guidance to the umpire community managing a growing number of adaptive races in their events. Contributing as a rower, coach, and umpire, as well as chair of the wider club and having longstanding involvement in the organisation of its events, it feels a fitting tribute to have the new Victor Ludorum trophy presented in his honour, to go alongside the club’s new Filippi Men’s Eight, which bears his name. Andy’s family will present the trophy after Sunday’s final adaptive race at Falcon Boat Club.
Follow all the action at Oxford City Royal Regatta here.
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