Fours Head will always hold a special place in my heart. After growing up just a few hundred metres away from the course, my first experience of racing on the Tideway came at Fours Head in 2018 as a J15. I can still picture the race and remember the challenging conditions that we had to contend with. Luckily for the seventeen crews entered into the W School/Junior coxed four category, the weather forecast says it will not be that windy this weekend – let’s hope it stays that way.
Tideway Scullers School (O’Sullivan)
Tideway Scullers School won three pennants last time Fours Head was held in 2019. They will aim to repeat that this year, and I believe they are capable of winning the coxed four. O’Sullivan was in the TSS JW16 quad that came fifth at the 2021 National Schools’ Regatta. It will be interesting to see if the sculling speed can be converted into sweep. TSS, like many of the crews entered into the W School/Junior coxed four, also have the advantage of training on the course. As this is a course that is notoriously difficult to steer, knowing it well is a massive advantage.
Latymer Upper School (Sheppard Wolfgramme)
Another crew with plenty of experience of rowing on the Tideway is Latymer Upper School. They have already had success this season with some good results at Wallingford Long Distance Sculls and Reading Small Boats Head. Sheppard Wolfgramme was in the Latymer JW8+ that came third at the 2021 National Schools’ Regatta. With a lot of sweep experience, this crew is certainly one to look out for.
Lady Eleanor Holles School (Bridge, Morgan)
Lady Eleanor Holles defended their title at the 2021 National Schools’ regatta in the JW8+. However, neither of the names that they have used for the entries were in that crew. Like Latymer, LEH have had success at Wallingford Long Distance Sculls, placing first and second in the JW18 4x. As well as this, LEH have been great at head races in the past and will be in contention for victory this weekend.
Putney High School (Forrester, Draper)
Putney High School have entered two fours into the W School/Junior coxed four category. Putney have had a lot of success at this race in the past, winning the Band 2 Junior Women’s Quad in 2019 and placing second overall. However, it seems that the coxless four is Putney’s top boat with neither of the names they have used for the coxed four in their first eight last year.
Henley Rowing Club (Macartney, Fitzgerald)
A club with a huge amount of success already this season is Henley Rowing Club. They have had multiple wins at Wallingford Long Distance Sculls, Reading Small Boats Head and Henley Long Distance Sculls. Fitzgerald won the Women’s Intermediate Coxless Pairs at Reading Small Boats Head, while Macartney placed fourth in the Band 1 Women’s J16 singles. Henley are always fast and I believe they will be fast again this year.
Other Crews
There are several other local crews entered: Kew House School Boat Club and two crews from each of St. Paul’s Girls’ School, Godolphin & Latymer School and Emmanuel School. These crews will also have the advantage of training on the course. In addition, there are crews entered from further afield in Great Marlow School Boat Club and Molesey Boat Club. It will be interesting to see how they get on this weekend.
Prediction
I think the battle for victory is likely to be between Tideway Scullers School, Latymer Upper School, Lady Eleanor Holles School and Henley Rowing Club. It will be very close at the top. If you pushed me, I would say that it is between TSS and Henley, with Henley maybe just having the edge.
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