Meet the 2025 1st Quad for The Windsor Boys' School.
Following an outstanding season which has seen them take GOLD at the Head of the Charles, Boston USA (Oct), Head of the North (Jan), Head of the Heineken, Amsterdam (March), Schools Head of River (March), Junior Sculling Head of River (March), Championship Quads at the National Schools Regatta (May), J18 Quads at both the Metropolitan Regatta (June) and Marlow @ Dorney Regatta (June), this crew have truly taken on all that was before them.
Bailey Taylor has fought every bit of the way to make the 1st Boat in 2025. Coming into the season off the back of an outstanding J16 year which saw him as part of the all-conquering 'A' quad, Bailey thought his target was to make the Henley 8 in 2025. This rapidly developed into much higher aspirations as his early season form saw him climb the rankings. Sheer determination to be the best version of himself all of the time, on and off the water. Bailey has worked extremely hard to develop his technique and physicality to the required standard and has truly earned his place in the bow seat. Ambitious to go to University in the USA, Bailey has been an outstanding part of the WBSBC team, leading always by example.
Isaac Thornton is an exceptional talent, and as a lightweight athlete incredibly achieved 6:18.0 on his recent 2k ergo test as a J17. Isaac represented Great Britain in 2024 at the J16 GB v France match in the quad, and again in 2025 at Munich International regatta, with his sights firmly set on gaining a World U19 Rowing Championship vest in 2025. As a J16 he was part of the all-conquering quad that won the National and pretty much every event they were entered into. This year has seen Isaac go from strength to strength and he has become an important part of the 1st boat. His progression has been significant, and Isaac also intends to head to the USA for University in September 2026 when he leaves TWBS. Very well-liked in the squad, Isaac is super determined and his future is exciting.
Ruben Taylor has had an exceptional U19 career, winning multiple National titles including Championship Quads in 2024 and 2025. Having gained a J16 GB vest in 2023 in the double scull, he went on to become the only athlete in history to represent Great Britain at the Coupe de la Jeunesse, the World U19 Rowing Championships, and the World U23 Rowing Championships in the same calendar year, as he did in 2024. At the Coupe he raced the single, and in achieving 6:58.2 became only the second Great Britain athlete to officially break the 7-minute barrier at a championship, the other being Marcus Chute. Ruben has worked very hard to develop his physicality and his mental skills, throughout the year, and is excited to be going to Oxford Brookes University this September. An outstanding character within the squad, Ruben by his only admission loves to have a good chat, and is extremely well-liked within the squads.
Joe Wellington has developed into the number one U19 athlete in the country in 2025, winning the British April Trials regatta in his single. Following an outstanding 2024 season, which culminated in representing Great Britain at the U19 World Rowing Championships in St Catherine's, Canada, as well as winning the Fawley Challenge Cup, Joe has had an incredible U19 career to date. Also representing GB at J16 level v France in 2023, Munich Regatta in 2024/2025, European Championship's in 2024. Joe now has his sights firmly on the 2025 World Rowing Championships in Trakai, Lithuania in August. At club level Joe is the only athlete in history to win Championship Quads at the National Schools Regatta 3 years running (2023/2024/2025), first gaining selection to the quad as a J16. Highly academic, especially in Physics and Maths, Joe heads to the Ivy League, and Princeton University USA in September. An outstanding person, and athlete, Joe has been an awesome asset to The Windsor Boys' School, his status is cemented as one of the greats.
June 2025