The 2025 season was a good, solid racing season, with only one event run under SRA rules unable to take place. The Singles Marathon was cancelled due to extreme inclement weather.
As such, the Umpires were kept busy and occupied from the Simon Mepham Mixed Marathon in April through to the SRA Doubles Marathon in October.
The early season long-distance events give the Umpires an opportunity to see the upcoming season’s competitors. The Umpires are observing the skiffers and coxes competing, noting their effectiveness and development, event to event.
The early-season events also provide an opportunity for aspiring and probationary umpires to get involved as Observers or Marshalls.
During the 2025 season, 3 probationary umpires successfully progressed through their written test and practical training and were able to umpire solo by the Club regattas towards the end of the year. Congratulations to Trevor, Kevin and Nick. Thanks also must go to those umpires who took the probationary umpires under their wing on the water and provided invaluable guidance from their many years of experience. Sadly, the skiffing community lost a long-time, well-respected umpire early in 2026. Dave Gramolt was on duty as a line judge at the Interclub Event in September 2025, and his quiet, yet firm and decisive approach to umpiring will be missed as the new season starts. As with every year, the list of available umpires is impacted by life events. Three long-time umpires retired from duties – Peter Willatts, Keith Banks and Graeme Mulcahy – the whole skiffing community thanks all three for the many hours they have spent on duty over the years and the wisdom they have shared. While the list of qualified umpires seems a reasonable length, there are somehow never enough to cover all events, without some degree of persuasion being necessary. As such, there is a continual drive to enthuse new people to come forward to sit the written test and gain the practical experience to qualify. The best way to get a good insight into umpiring sprint regatta skiff races is to drive the umpire’s launch. The SRA and, in particular, the umpires’ sub-committee urges anyone considering umpiring to first put themselves forward for launch driving. Taking an RY2 Powerboat course provides a great introduction and is increasingly considered a prerequisite to driving.
The sprint season was generally with ambient conditions, aside from the downpours at Hampton Court and Ditton’s Regatta, which was a great reminder that every umpire needs a decent water proof jacket, a cap with a peak so they can still read the paper work and a reliable pair of waterproof over trousers, so that they can disembark from the launch and not suffer any embarrassment from sitting on a very wet seat! The sprint season saw close racing at all regattas, but with fewer dead heats than in the previous year. Line judging is as much part of the umpiring role as the on-the-water duties, and a steady eye on the line, with a second pair of eyes where a close finish is seen as imminent, is vital. Veteran racing once again was popular throughout the season. The non-linear handicapping, introduced by the late Tim Tomlinson some years back, has really changed Veteran Racing for the better. Watching a race where the crew with the least handicap leaves the stake boat last and progressively catches up with the other crew(s) to result in a close finish is exciting and fair for both the competitors and the spectators.
2025 was the first season of the new location and course for Sunbury Amateur Regatta. The course was new for everyone involved with the Regatta – umpires, competitors, organisers, coxes and spectators. The course presented some challenges, being far from straight, but as the well-attended day progressed, the course was learned, and the Regatta was confirmed as a great success. The SRA Interclub event, held in the early part of the same day as the Skiff Club Regatta, but with a different set of Umpires, once again saw 3 lane racing. For many competitors, 3 lane racing is only something they have heard about until the last couple of years – it’s great to see it back, where it’s possible. It provides additional interest and skill for everyone, although if it becomes more popular, we will have to see what tool is used for the skiff program, as those in use just now were written for 2 lane racing only!
As the season drew to a close at the Doubles Marathon, nominations were received for the Most Improved Sculler and for the Ruth Knight Coxing Award. The submitted reports for each were considered alongside the Umpires’ observations throughout the season. The Most Improved Skiffer award was presented to Helen La Frenais from DSPC, and Malcolm Knight presented the Ruth Knight Coxing award to Eloise Lennon of SSPC.