Head of the Charles 2025

WA ‘Black Swans’ Soar to Victory at World’s Biggest Rowing Regatta

A crew of West Australian former elite rowers have stunned the international rowing scene, claiming victory at the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston — the world’s largest and most prestigious rowing event.TheBlack Swans, a group that reunited five years ago for fitness and friendship, took out the Men’s Grand Masters Eights division for rowers over 50. The crew includes four Olympic medallists and several former national representatives.

Coxswain Bourby Webster, founder of the Perth Symphony Orchestra, said the team was still in disbelief.

“We’re still in shock. We thought it was a bucket list race — not one we’d win! The scale of the event was breathtaking,” she said from Boston.

Starting well down the order, the Perth crew had to weave through choppy water and slower boats.

“We were like a rogue crew from the far-off planet of Perth, zigzagging our way up the river,” Webster laughed.

The Head of the Charles attracts over 2,000 crews from around the world, racing along the twisting three-mile course of the Charles River past Harvard University.

What began as a social reunion for fun and fitness has now turned into an international triumph — and an unforgettable moment for this crew of proud West Aussies.

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Tony Imison Strikes Gold at the Head of the Charles

WA Masters' athlete, Tony Imison has returned from Boston with an incredible win under his belt, after being invited to join a star-studded Men’s Veteran Eights (60–70yrs) crew at the world-famous Head of the Charles Regatta in the Boston, USA.

The crew, rowing under the Upper Yarra Boat Club banner, was handpicked by Olympic legend Peter Antonie and included several former Olympians and Australian representatives. Tony, who rowed with some of them in his earlier racing days, earned his place after his standout performance at the WA Indoor Rowing Championships earlier this year — and clearly made an impression at trials in Melbourne.

For the past two months, Tony has been seen clocking up serious training hours on the ergos at the ANA boatshed, before flying east each weekend for on-water sessions with the crew. The hard work paid off spectacularly, with the team storming down the Charles River course in 15 minutes and 49 seconds, taking victory in their division from a field of 26 international crews.

The Head of the Charles is the world’s largest rowing event, drawing more than 2,000 crews from across the globe — making this result all the more remarkable.

Congratulations, Tony — a phenomenal achievement and a proud moment for Western Australian rowing!