Ahead of the Henley Royal Regatta, Shiplake College welcomed back Olympian, Old Viking, and current parent Ben Hunt-Davis MBE for a memorable evening celebrating the launch of the third edition of his best-selling book, Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?

Guests gathered for drinks before heading into an engaging live Q&A session hosted by Headmaster Tyrone Howe. The conversation tracked Ben’s transition from an "ordinary guy in an ordinary team" to standing on the top step of the podium with an Olympic Gold medal at the Sydney 2000 Games.

Ben shared candid insights into the mindset that drove the Men’s Eight to Olympic victory, along with broader reflections on leadership, focus, and resilience:

Relentless Clarity: The simple, famous question - Will it make the boat go faster? - served as a filter for every decision, meeting, and training session. If the answer was no, they cut it out.

Marginal Gains in Action: Ben spoke about how small, consistent improvements across a team compound into extraordinary results over time, whether in elite sport, corporate leadership, or personal goals.

Life After Gold: Beyond the rowing world, Ben discussed how these performance strategies helped him navigate career transitions, leadership roles, and everyday challenges.

Following the main discussion, Ben stayed to sign copies of the freshly updated third edition, co-authored with executive coach Harriet Beveridge and spoke directly with students, parents, and alumni.

Supporting the Shiplake Foundation

All money raised through ticket sales raised funds for the Shiplake Foundation, directly supporting bursaries that open doors for future pupils.

Thank you to everyone who attended, supported the event, and made the evening such a success.