Ross Regatta
Ross Regatta is held on the River Wye at Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire over the August bank holiday weekend. It is run by Ross Rowing Club, whose origins go back to the 1870s.
Format
| Day | Regatta | Usual distance |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Masters and juniors sprint | 550 m |
| Monday | Open regatta | 750 m |
Both courses are rowed downstream, two crews at a time. The river bends, so the start and finish are staggered to give each lane the same distance.
A river that sets the terms
The Wye is a natural river with no locks at Ross, and its level decides what can be raced. In dry summers the course has been shortened or moved upstream to find deeper water. In 2026 both days were raced over 550 metres for that reason.
Who races
The regatta draws close to 1,000 competitors in around 140 events, with ages running from 11 to over 70. Winners receive a china Ross Rowing Club mug, known to rowers as a “pot”.
A bank holiday pair
Gloucester Regatta is held on the Saturday and Sunday of the same weekend, about 16 miles away. Many clubs race at both.
Watching
The course runs past the club at Rope Walk, close to the A40 bridge. There is camping beside the river and food and music at the club in the evenings.