Light Blues Test Orange Nerves | Henley Regatta

Cambridge University’s men’s eight came impressively close to reaching the final of the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, finishing just half a length behind a top Dutch international crew.

The Grand Challenge Cup is usually the preserve of world-class national teams, but under the guidance of BIG ROB (Baker), the Light Blues believed anything was possible.

We love an underdog story at FLYCARB, and the Cambridge boys nearly made it happen.

A big shout out to the members of the crew that used FLYCARB'S BICARRB'S; Douwe de Graaf (stroke), George Bourne and James Robson.

2025 has been a year to remember for the Light Blues, and to prove themselves worthy opponents on the highest of international stages is a very appropriate ending.

If you’re a rower and haven’t tried bicarbonate yet, ask yourself:

Do I want a performance edge?

Rowing is a high-intensity, full-body sport that places substantial demands on both the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems. During races and intense training efforts, rowers produce large amounts of lactic acid which dissaccociates into lactate ions and hydrogen ions, leading to muscle acidosis and fatigue.

Bicarbonate supplementation helps buffer this acid buildup by increasing the body’s extracellular pH buffering capacity, which can delay fatigue and sustain power output during repeated high-effort intervals or race pieces. This makes it particularly well-suited to rowing, where maintaining performance under heavy metabolic stress is critical.

FLYCARB’s BiCarrb delivers a much higher dose of bicarbonate than traditional supplements, without the gut problems that often come with raw sodium bicarb. Thanks to our energy mix delivery system, athletes get:

• Up to 3% performance gains from lactate buffering
• Faster recovery between rounds and after tough sessions
• A big sodium boost for improved hydration and muscle function

If you're looking to level up, head to our shop and find out more.