2019 – What To Expect

With January finally coming to an end, racing is making a long and overdue return to the rowing calendars.  Our coverage for 2019 started last weekend as we rolled out coverage for Boston Head.  This continues as crews take to the Tideway for the first time this year at the ever competitive Quintin Head.  This will give schools and clubs the first taste of unpredictable Thames as the whispers of Schools’ Head start to grow louder. 

However, between now and the 15th March, there will be plenty of opportunities for seat racing to occur, crews to be formed and lineups to be decided.  Hampton Head will be the first mass outing for Junior crews.  Not only will this give an indication of early rankings in the Quads and Eights but small boat combinations will likely also race the Hampton stretch in preparation for The Great Britain February Assessments. 

After finally toppling Headington, will this be the start of a dynasty for Henley Rowing Club? Strong showings at the Fours Head and Wallingford certainly back this theory up.  Also, watch out for crews from Kingston and Lea who won their respective Coxed and Coxless Fours events at Fours Head.  Leander staked their claim early on with a 1-2 in Champ Junior Quads back in November.  On the sweep side of things, after St Paul’s all-conquering season last year, the playing field has somewhat levelled out with Westminster School re-emerging into the spotlight and Radley also setting a benchmark at Wallingford Head.

As ever, Junior Rowing News will be covering Head races right through this first period of racing in 2019 with an event just about every week between now and the Schools’ Head and the Junior Sculling Head

About The Author

Tom Morgan

Tom is the Founder of JRN. He has been creating content around rowing for over a decade and has been fortunate enough to witness some of the greatest athletes and races to ever grace our sport.

See author's posts