Raced over the classic 4.25 mile course of the Oxford-Cambridge boat race, the first post-covid fours head promises a great day of racing on the chilly November Tideway. 22 crews from 18 clubs enter into the open club coxed fours event, racing at 10:45 on Saturday the 13th of November.
Quintin BC
Quintin boat club, racing on their home stretch of the tideway, enter two fours into the event. Recently Quintin BC crews won the Masters 4x- at Upper Thames Autumn head as well as two masters sculling events at Weybridge Silver Sculls.
Vesta RC
Vesta rowing club have had a very successful 2021 summer season, making it through to Friday at Henley Royal in the Thames Challenge Cup and Saturday in the Goblets Challenge Cup. Clearly a talented senior sweep squad, the three fours can be expected to be fast crews to watch.
Marlow RC
Marlow RC, one of the highest performing clubs in the country enter two fours into this event. Recently they won the first and second coxed fours events at Upper Thames Autumn head. Definitely a crew to watch.
City of Cambridge RC
City of Cambridge qualified a number of crews for Henley Royal sweep events this year, both their mens 4- and 8+ as well as the women’s development 4+ making it through to the Saturday. These qualifiers come after a great bumps campaign in Cambridge.
Auriol Kensington
Auriol Kensington, based in the center of London and with a history full of great wins, enter one crew into this event. This summer their mens 4- pre-qualified for the Wyfold Challenge Cup for the first time in 12 years.
Reading RC
Reading RC with a large squad, including GB Start, senior men women and masters performed well at Maidenhead RC winning the open division mens 4+, clearly setting them up for another good performance at the fours head.
Maidstone Invicta RC
Maidstone Invicta’s senior men’s squad have had a good season, recently setting the course record in the M4- at Medway Head. They also competed in the Wyfold Challenge Cup, although did not make it through the heats.
Twickenham RC
Twickenham RC have had a number of great successes from their senior men’s squad on both the national and international stage. Twickenham’s Callum Dixon and Nathan Hull won gold in the Men’s Double at European U23 championships. At home Twickenham won the Victor Ludorum at Staines regatta. Clearly a driven senior rowing squad they’ll definitely be a crew to watch at this year’s head.
St Neots RC
St Neots’ senior men’s squad recently put in a good performance in the Goblets at Henley Royal making it through to the Friday before being knocked out by Cambridge University. Although not the largest, St Neots can be sure to put out a good crew.
Star Club
Star Club’s men senior sweep squad recently performed well at Bedford Small Boats Head winning the open coxed and coxless fours events. Their women’s squad also performed well, winning a number of sculling and sweep events.
London RC
London RC started the 2021 season with a very strong performance at the scullers head, winning six events. Racing on their home stretch of the tideway and equipped with a fleet of top Empacher and Filippi boats, London can be sure to give a great performance.
Molesey BC
One of GB’s certified high performance centers enters one crew into this event. Molesley athletes Moe Sibihi and Becca Muzerie were selected for the Tokyo Olympics this year competing in the men’s and women’s 8s respectively. Clearly a talented senior sweep squad, Molesey will certainly be gunning for the win in the 4+.
Other crews to watch
City of Bristol RC, Upper Thames RC, Putney Town RC, Agecroft RC, Gravesend RC and the German team Deutscher Ruder-Club all enter one crew into the event ensuring there will be plenty of close racing this year.
Predictions
Although a great number of crews from many high-performing clubs are entering this year, I think the fastest crew will surely be Molesey BC or Marlow RC with Twickenham RC and London RC following with fast times.
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