After a tight margin in last year’s event, clubs on their home turf will once again likely fight for the win at this year’s Fours Head. With Molesey and Tideway Scullers missing from the draw, it leaves the potential battle for third tantalisingly open.
London Rowing Club
On home water, London RC were last year’s winners on the Fours Head course. Coming off of a successful season where they made the semi-finals of the Britannia Challenge Cup at Henley (along with a win in the Wyfold Challenge Cup), they boast a strong selection of rowers to pose a threat for opposing crews. With two crews entered, the potential for victory is there, and they will surely want to retain their title. Will London have the firepower to pose a big enough threat?
Thames Rowing Club
A club that needs no introduction, Thames RC have entered two crews for the open club coxed fours. With a strong squad, and acting as the go-to club-level rowing institution for aspiring Henley winners, they arrive on Sunday with incredible heritage and form behind them. After a win in the Britannia and Thames Challenge Cups at Henley in 2023, they have proven they know how to be fast in a coxed four and an eight. Having beaten last year’s winners, London RC, in the semi-final at Henley, they could well have gained enough speed to close in on the 0.4 second gap from last year’s Fours Head and to take the win with a comfortable margin. There’s no denying it’ll be a tough race, and they share home water advantage with London RC, but it’s hard to bet against Sander Smulders and his brigade of athletes.
Marlow Rowing Club
With two crews entered, Marlow RC join the fight as a club with huge promise. While the crews don’t have the home water advantage that London and Thames have, they have consistently shown improvement within their squad. They finished far behind London and Thames at last year’s Fours Head, tucked away in fourth behind Molesey but with a comfortable gap ahead of Vesta. Can they make the jump up in 2023?
Vesta Rowing Club
Training on the tideway, Vesta’s speed is a relative unknown season to season. At Henley, Vesta entered the Britannia, and while they lost their first round to Royal Chester (who were then beaten by the eventual winners) they held the lead through the Barrier and Fawley, resulting in a loss by a length. Coming in at fifth and 15th at last year’s Fours Head, they will be aiming to make up some time.
Agecroft Rowing Club
With just one crew entered, Agecroft are looking to ascend the rankings after coming eighth in last year’s event. Agecroft weren’t seen at Henley in the Britannia this year, but have a rich history in boating strong club crews as one of the Northern powerhouses within our sport. Finishing 52 seconds behind Thames last year, they have some time to make up if they want to be competitive in the club level coxed fours, but with a tight margin behind Derby they could have what it takes to push for the top five. City of Cambridge will pose the biggest threat as they were close behind in last year’s event too. As the location of a world-class start program, the expertise behind Agecroft may show through in this year’s Fours Head.
Prediction
London RC will put up a big fight, but ultimately Thames will likely take the win by a small but relatively comfortable margin. Marlow will push into third place, with Vesta not too far behind. Agecroft will push City of Cambridge into sixth as they take the fifth place. As is the nature of the Tideway, a wildcard could be on the table so to rule out the likes of Hereford, City of Bristol, Upper Thames or any other willing to make a bold play on race day, would be foolish.
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