Poplar Regatta: A Showcase of Fierce Racing and Community Spirit

On 17 May 2026, the waters of East London’s Royal Albert Dock came alive with the phenomenal energy of the annual Poplar Regatta. Set against the striking backdrop of London City Airport, the roar of jets was matched by the cheers of spectators as crews from across the country battled it out.

Video by Markus Gesmann

The conditions tested the mettle of every athlete on the water. A persistent Westerly head-wind, with gusts occasionally exceeding 15 mph, made for challenging, dynamic racing. Yet, the calibre of rowing remained exceptional across the board. The sheer scale of the day was a testament to the thriving state of domestic rowing. The regatta featured 52 events and 76 races spanning everything from singles to eights, and from J14s to top crews from Leander and Oxford Brookes. In total, crews travelled to the regatta from 47 different schools and clubs.

The Results: Victor and Victrix Ludorum

The racing was intensely competitive, with every point hard-earned. Based on the provisional standings, the top honours for the day go to the following clubs and schools:

Congratulations to London RC and the University of London for their outstanding overall performances to secure the top spots! The full results are available here.

The Engine Room: Volunteers and Community

While the athletes delivered the spectacle, the success of Poplar Regatta lies in its community. An event of this magnitude simply does not happen without a monumental logistical effort behind the scenes.

Poplar’s Club Captain, Ben Gliniecki, perfectly captured the mood of the day:

“Seeing the rowing community come together at the Royal Albert Dock is always incredibly special. I look forward to it every year. The racing was fiercely competitive, and head wind conditions are always tough. But what really makes this regatta a success is the phenomenal spirit of everyone involved. To pull off an event of this scale takes a lot of work, and we are immensely proud of the dedication shown by our volunteers, umpires, and supporters.”

In total, over 100 helpers and volunteers gave up their time to ensure the regatta ran safely and smoothly. We owe a massive debt of gratitude to:

• Our PBDRC Members: Around 60 Poplar members worked tirelessly on everything from stakeboating to capturing the finish times.
• British Rowing Umpires: Over 20 umpires kept the racing fair and safe in testing conditions.
• The Sea Cadets: Roughly 10 cadets provided invaluable support throughout the day in driving the safety boats.
• Our Friends at the London Regatta Centre: For their continuous collaboration and facility support.

A special mention must also go to James Campbell and his team from Private Parking Management, for helping to set up the race course and whose logistical expertise kept the landside operations moving flawlessly.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Finally, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to our sponsors. Without their generous help and financial support, hosting a regatta of this scale would simply not be possible. Thank you to Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, Empacher UK, Elite Rowing Insurance, and Insurance Capital Markets Research (ICMR).

Thank you to every athlete, coach, supporter, and volunteer who made yesterday’s Poplar Regatta a resounding success. We look forward to seeing you all on the water again next year!

Photo Gallery

All photos by Carole Milligan.