A heartfelt thank you to our 2025 headline sponsor — Abyss Brewing. Based in Lewes, our local independent brewery is known for crafting fresh, modern beers and for championing the power of beer to bring people together. Collaboration is poured into everything Abyss does, and we’re delighted to have them on board supporting our growing local event.

The annual Head of the Ouse takes place on the River Ouse in Sussex, with a challenging 10km race course taking crews through the beautiful South Downs — from the busy port of Newhaven to the county town of Lewes and back.

The event is open to all types of fixed seat rowing craft and features two races — an open race for men’s and mixed crews upriver on the last of the flood tide, and a women’s race back downriver as the tide begins to ebb.

The boats are set off at intervals, with results adjusted according to the Ouse Yardstick which ensures different boat classes can compete on an equal footing.

Three crews will be crowned Head of the Ouse in their category, once times have been adjusted using the Ouse Yardstick — the fastest women’s, men’s & mixed crews.

In addition, there are prizes for the swiftest boat of each class across both upriver and downriver races, and certificates for the fastest crews by age category.

An article about HOTO24 was published on the GigRower website here.

Read about the 2023 event on GigRower here.

Results from the 2022 event featured on the British Rowing website here and on GigRower at this link.

The Sussex Express reported on the 2021 event here.

The 2025 event is being organised by members of the four rowing clubs on the Sussex Ouse: Affinity Rowing Club, Lewes Rowing Club, Newhaven Gig Rowing Club and Lewes Pilot Gig Club.