Fours Head 2016 – J4+

We have a strong and diverse field arrayed for J18 fours: multiple GB returners as well as National schools winners and medalists. Excitingly, schools that historically sit HOR4s out have decided to race, namely Eton, Radley and Westminster, whilst Hampton have abstained. This should make for thrilling racing.

Fours head is the first race that most of the big schools all come out and compete against each other, but it is still not a top priority and hard training this week prior for certain schools may produce results beyond the form book. So, having covered our backs should we get this wrong, onto the predictions:

Westminster

Arguably one of the strongest crews in the category, they have two worlds returners as well as a silver medalist in J16 4x at Nat Schools who also took a 4th place finish in J16 4+. On baord there’s also Alex Green – very physical athlete of immense proportions. Alongside him are SHORR and NSR winning Reggie Mitchell and Henry Jones, expect Butler’s boys to lay down a marker. Mitchell was selected for the Junior Worlds, but suffered a rib fracture and was unable to compete. Being ineligible to trial this year, he’ll certainly be bringing some fight to this race in the stroke seat. I expect their worlds returners to be the driving force behind this boat and it is them which marks them out from the field.

Shrewsbury

A school that had a modest but respectable 1st VIII season last year, this boat features Matthew Rowe, an athlete who was towards the very top of junior rowing physically last year, and backed that up with selection for the coxed four at the worlds with the aforementioned Alex Green. Barney Fox also pocketed 2 medals at Coupe in the eight. This year RSS have taken on coach Sam Grant, a stalwart of Eton’s programme for the best part of a decade, so it will be interesting to see how these guys row into the difficult conditions currently being forecast.

St Paul’s

St Paul’s have a strong crew out: 3 GB France returners (two rowers one cox) from the coxed four that had a narrow loss to the French and those same 3 from the J16 Ch8+ that won School’s Head and got silver at National Schools. They are joined by a returner from the Sunday-reaching 1st VIII and are likely to be up there.

Radley

Radley have put out a four full of returners from their Championship 8+ that got bronze at National Schools and reached the Friday of Henley. They also performed well at the recent Head of the Charles winning Youth Fours. They may suffer a steering disadvantage against the Tideway crews, and the fact that they are at the back meaning they may get caught up with in overtaking. Despite this they are still likely to contend.

Shiplake’s entry will be playing second fiddle on saturday to a top quad featuring their GB returners. Likewise whilst the Eton crew contains a Henley winner and 2 GB-France athletes, the best local boats should see them off this time. The same is true for Abingdon. King’s College School will enjoy a home water advantage, but given some middling results over in the States I wouldn’t expect them to feature.

BlueCollars & Sculler

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