Imperial College Boat Club (ICBC) is the rowing club for Imperial College and has its boat house on the River Thames on the Putney embankment, London, United Kingdom. The alumni also run a boat club which is known as the Queen's Tower Boat Club and both crews occasionally row together as a composite in competition. The club has been home to numerous National Squad oarsmen and women and is open to students of Imperial College London. It had a prestigious history of racing, having won Henley Royal Regatta 25 times and presently holding The Prince Albert Challenge Cup. ICBC also holds the distinction of having won The Prince Albert Challenge Cup a record five times.
History The club was formed in 1919 and initially shared facilities with Thames Rowing Club but has had its own boathouse since 1938.
The club has been successful in competitions, with many wins at Henley Royal Regatta including in 2026 with victory in The Prince Albert Challenge Cup event.
The gold medal-winning Great Britain eight at the 2000 Sydney Olympics were based at Imperial College's refurbished boathouse and included three alumni of the college, along with their coach Martin McElroy.
Until 2008, the head coach was Simon Cox who, after taking over from Simon Dennis in 2005, went on to coach the Henley Royal Regatta winning crew in 2006, before taking up a position with Swiss Rowing. His replacement was Olympic Gold Medallist Steve Trapmore who coached the club until September 2010, when he moved on to coach Cambridge University Boat Club. Don McLachlan took over from 2010 until leaving in April 2013 to become lead coach at Rowing Ireland, just before the club won Henley Royal Regatta again a few months later.
Coaching The most well-known of Imperial College Boat Club's coaches was Bill Mason, a former Olympic oarsman himself and for many years was head coach and director of rowing at Imperial College BC. In that time he was responsible for numerous Henley Royal Regatta and Henley Women's Regatta wins. He coached athletes at the club from novices up to international and developed the club substantially during his time in charge.
Major event wins and international competition Henley Royal Regatta wins Year Event Crew 2026The Prince Albert Challenge Cup2022The Remenham Challenge Cup 2018 The Prince Albert Challenge Cup 2017 Visitors’ Challenge Cup 2013 The Prince Albert Challenge Cup J.C.Rankin, H.C.J.Goodier, B.R.Spencer-Jones, T.P.Richards, cox: E.J.Smith, coach: Stuart Whitelaw 2011 Visitors' Challenge Cup J. Kirkwood 2010 Visitors' Challenge Cup J. Kirkwood 2008 Visitors' Challenge Cup G. Whittaker, S.Hislop, coach: Steve Trapmore 2006 The Prince Albert Challenge Cup B. Smith, O. Moore, W. Laughton, O. Tietz, cox: A. Williams (setting record) coach: Simon Cox 2004 Men's Student Coxed Fours S.Hislop, G. Whittaker, H. Mackenzie, E. Johnson, cox:S. Pierce, coach: Simon Dennis and Bill Mason 2002 Visitors Challenge Cup D. Marett, D. Gillard, coach: Bill Mason 1998 Temple Challenge Cup J. Davenport, S.P. Jones, P.J.E. Holt, A.S. Virgo, N.P. Atkins, R.D. Sanders, R.J. Dennis, A.F. Shuttleworth, cox M.C. Crossman, coach: Bill Mason 1996 Grand Challenge Cup S. Wall, D. Gillard, S. Dennis, L. Attrill, L. Grubor, R. Dunn, M. Kettle, P.Wilson, cox: J.Goodwin, coach: Martin McElroy 1995 Thames Challenge Cup L. Attrill, T. Gale, J. Botterill, A. Kershaw, A. Warnock, P. Wilson, S. Dennis, R. Lucas, cox: J. Goodwin, coach: Martin McElroy (new record time) 1994 Temple Challenge Cup J. Wells, G. Ingram, J. Einthoven, L. Attrill, J. Moore, A. Ryder, J. Botterill, J. Bichard, cox:J. Goodwin, coach: Bill Mason 1994 Visitors Challenge Cup B. Poulton, E. Wild, A. Green, M. Kettle, coach: Bill Mason 1992 Ladies' Challenge Plate L. Morgan, D. Forster, E. Wild, A. Green, L. Grubor, J. Waller, S. Ellis, B. Poulton, cox:C. Boon, coach: Bill Mason (new record time) 1992 Temple Challenge Cup C. Parks, P. Reilly, K. Foreman, J. Bichard, M. Kettle, T. Miller, S. Puttick, T. Beddoe, cox A. Coddrington, coach: Bill Mason (new record time) 1990 Henley Prize (later renamed Temple Challenge Cup)coach: Bill Mason 1987 Visitors Challenge Cup C. Behrens, J. Waller, G. Pooley, J. Walker coach: Bill Mason 1985 Visitors Challenge Cup G. Pooley, A. Spalding, G. Harding, K Steinlechner, coach: Bill Mason 1978 Ladies' Challenge Plate S. Hackett, C Howell, I Birch, A Reynolds, W Edgerley, C Southall, A Cooper, S Hall, cox S Illman, coaches N James, P Summers 1968 Visitors Challenge Cup 1946 Thames Challenge Cup 1923 Wyfold Challenge Cup
Henley Women's Regatta wins Year Event Crew2023Aspirational Single Scull2023Elite Coxless Pair2023Academic Coxless Four2021Academic Coxless Four2015Elite Lightweight PairsJ. Hubbard, N. Mason, coach: Jamie Low 2006 Senior Eights S. Supponen, R. Davies, C. Mynhardt, C. Greenhalgh, N. Smith, R. Bradbury, G. Bradbury, M. Petronikolos, cox:J. Fukuta, coach: Bill Mason 2006 Elite Lightweight Singles M. Pauls, coach: Bill Mason 2005 Intermediate Coxed Fours S. Supponen, C. Greenhalgh, N. Smith, N. Evans, cox:L. Sutcliffe, coach: Laura Middleton 2005 FISA Senior B Lwt 1x R. Davies, coach: Laura Middleton 2001 Club Coxed Fours T. King, E. Williams, J. Taylor, P. Keegan, cox:J. Ellis, coach: Tony Reynolds 2001 Elite Lightweight Singles A. Eastman 2000 College Eights C. Coats, R. Stainforth, J. Taylor, T. King, P. Keegan, E. Williams, A. Eastman, coach: Bill Mason and Andy Green 1997 College Eights and Invitation University EightsS. Davies, R. Dixon, J. Williams, M. Hirsch, A. Trickey, J. Belbeck, K. Jourdan, A. McDonald, cox N. Tan, coach: Guy Ingram 1996 Club Eights H. James, J. Belbeck, A. Smith, K. Wehrheim, A. Trickey, S. Khan, K. Jourdan, A. McDonald, cox N. Tan, coach: Guy Ingram (new record time)
Great Britain Rowing Olympic vests Year Competition Event Result Crew 2016 Rio Olympic Games Women's Eight Silver M. Wilson, Z. Lee 2012 London Olympic Games Women's Quad 6th M. Wilson 2012 London Olympic Games Men's Lwt Reserve A. Freeman-Pask 2004 Athens Olympic Games Men's Pair 7th R. Dunn 2004 Athens Olympic Games Men's Eight 9th D. Ouseley 2000 Sydney Olympic Games Men's Eight Gold L. Attrill, S. Dennis, L. Grubor, coach: Martin McElroy 2000 Sydney Olympic Games Reserve R. Dunn 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games Lwt Reserve S. Ellis 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games Men's Eight 8th J. Walker 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games Hwt Reserve G. Pooley 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games Men's Eight 6th J. Walker 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games Men's Quad Scull 13th G. Pooley
Great Britain Rowing Senior International vests Year Competition Event Result Crew2015World Championships – AiguebeletteMen's Lwt Coxless PairGoldS. Scrimgeour2015World Championships – AiguebeletteMen's Coxed PairGoldH. Fieldman2015World Championships – AiguebeletteWomen's Eight4th Z. Lee, D. Etiebet2015World Championships – AiguebeletteWomen's Quad8thM. Wilson 2009 World Championships – Poznan Men's Lwt Coxless Pair 5th O. Mahony, coach: Steve Trapmore 2009 World Championships – Poznan Men's Lwt Eight (Germany) 6th O. Tietz 2009 World Championships – Poznan Men's Lwt Single Scull 8th A. Freeman-Pask, coach: Steve Trapmore 2008 World Championships – Linz Men's Lwt Single Scull 13th A. Freeman-Pask 2008 World Championships – Linz Women's Lwt Single Scull 9th M. Pauls 2007 World Championships – Munich Women's Lwt Quadruple Scull 2nd M. Pauls 2006 World Championships – Dorney Men's Coxed Four 5th S. Pearce 2003 World Championships – Milan Men's Coxless Four Silver R. Dunn 2002 World Championships – Seville Men's Coxless Four Silver R. Dunn 2002 World Championships – Seville Men's Coxed Four Gold L. Grubor 2002 World Championships – Seville Men's Coxless Four Silver R. Dunn 2001 World Championships – Lucerne Men's Coxless Four Gold R. Dunn 2001 World Championships – Lucerne Men's Eight 5th L. Attrill, S. Dennis, L. Grubor, coach: Martin McElroy 2000 World Championships – Zagreb Men's Coxed Four Gold R. Dunn 1999 World Championships – St. Catharines Men's Eight Silver L. Attrill, L. Grubor, coach: Martin McElroy 1999 World Championships – St. Catharines Men's Coxed Four Silver R. Dunn 1999 World Championships – St. Catharines Men's Pair 5th S. Dennis 1998 World Championships – Cologne Men's Eight 7th L. Attrill, coach: Martin McElroy 1998 World Championships – Cologne Men's Coxed Four 8th R. Dunn, M. Hussey 1997 World Championships – Aiguebellette Men's Eight 4th L. Attrill, R. Dunn, S. Dennis, coach: Martin McElroy 1994 World Championships – Indionapolis Lwt Eight Gold S. Ellis
Great Britain Rowing U23 International vests Year Competition Event Result -2015U23 Worlds – PlovdivWomen's Double4thG. Francis2014U23 Worlds – VareseWomen's EightSilverG. Francis2014U23 Worlds – VareseLwt FourSilverT. Richards2014U23 Worlds – VareseLwt PairSilverW. Kimberley 2013 U23 Worlds – Linz Lwt Four Silver T. Richards 2013 U23 Worlds – Linz Lwt Pair Silver W.Kimberley 2013 U23 Worlds – Linz Women's Lwt Quad Bronze R. Atkinson 2012 U23 Worlds – Trakai Lwt Pair 4th W. Kimberley 2012 U23 Worlds – Trakai Lwt Quad 9th T. Richards 2011 U23 Worlds – Amsterdam Lwt Four 7th J. Kirkwood 2011 U23 Worlds – Amsterdam Lwt Quad 7th J. Butler, W. Kimberley 2011 U23 Worlds – Amsterdam Coxed Four 5th H. Goodier 2010 U23 Worlds – Brest Women's Four 4th L. Howard-Merrill 2010 U23 Worlds – Brest Lwt Four GOLD J. Kirkwood 2010 U23 Worlds – Brest Men's Eight Bronze H. Fieldman 2009 U23 Worlds – Roudnice Men's Eight Bronze H. Fieldman 2007 U23 Worlds – Strathclyde Coxless Four Bronze O. Moore 2007 U23 Worlds – Strathclyde Lwt Quad 5th A. Freeman-Pask 2007 U23 Worlds – Strathclyde Men's Eight 6th W. Laughton 2007 U23 Worlds – Strathclyde Men's Single Scull 11th B.Smith 2006 U23 Worlds – Hazewinkel Coxless Pair Bronze B. Smith, O. Moore, coach: S. Pearce 2003 U23 Worlds – Belgrade Coxless Four 11th G. Whittaker, E. Johnson 2002 U23 Worlds – Genoa Coxless Four 7th A. Rivers 2000 U23 Nations Cup – Copenhagen Coxed Four GOLD A. Rivers, A. Warner 2000 U23 Nations Cup – Copenhagen Coxless Four 7th S. Jones 1996 U23 Nations Cup – Hazewinkel Coxless Four GOLD L. Attrill, S. Dennis, R. Dunn, S. Eyre, coach: Martin McElroy 1995 U23 Nations Cup – Groningen Men's Eight 9th L. Attrill, S. Dennis, T. Gale, A. Kershaw, A. Warnock, coach: Martin McElroy
Wingfield Sculls YearEvent Champion Time 2015Men's ChampionT. Richards21.402014Men's ChampionT. Richards21.06Women's ChampionM. Wilson21.312011Men's ChampionA. Freeman-Pask19.41 (record)
National champions Year Competition 1978 Men 2+ 1985 Men lightweight 4- 1991 Men lightweight 4- 1996 Men 2- (with Queen's Tower) (QT) 1997 Women 4- Women 8+ (both with QT) Men 2-, Men 4x (both QT only) 1998 Women 4+, Men 2+ (QT only), Men 4x (QT only) 1999 Men 1x, Men 2x, Women 2 (All QT only) 2002 Women 2- 2004 Open 8+ 2008 Women 4x 2014 Women 2x, Women 4x, Women 4- 2015 Women 2x, Women 8+
Notable members Henry Fieldman
See also
Rowing on the River Thames University rowing in the United Kingdom
References
External links Imperial College London Boat Club IC Empire (archive from 2001–2003)