Fours Head is back, and this year’s Women’s Championship Coxless Fours event will provide a good start to the head season in the bigger boats for those entered. In total there are seven clubs making up the ten crews entered, with Leander Club, Thames RC and Oxford Brookes doubling up. All of the clubs entered have shown some incredible depth in the past season and over the years, however with this being the first head race of the year in big boats anything can happen – especially on the Tideway.
Leander Club
First out the blocks, Leander Club, winning both women’s four events last year, the Leander women will no doubt produce two strong crews for this event. From the crew that won this event last year, Annie Campbell-Orde and Sophia Heath return but this time in the ‘B’ boat.
The ‘A’ boat features the experienced Karen Bennett, hot off her return to rowing at the recent GB trials. The two fours from Leander both look very strong and should be quite close.
Thames RC
Thames RC didn’t have an entry in this event last year, however, they did take the win in the Women’s Club Coxless Four. The Thames women’s squad have shown a great depth of results last year’s summer racing most notably taking the win in the Wargrave Challenge Cup at Henley Royal, the rowers from this club will be looking to step up from the club events and to start taking on the championship level of rowing this year after their success last season.
Cambridge University BC
With Cambridge being second in this event last year and just shy of three seconds off the winning crew, they will be determined to go out this year to try and take the win. After another successful year of taking the Boat Race win the Cambridge women will no doubt produce a strong four to race down the Tideway this weekend.
Oxford Brookes University BC
With Brookes coming fourth in this event last year, they will be looking to better this result in the upcoming head race with two crews entered in this championship event. With their women’s programme stepping up and up in recent years, these girls will be keen to make a serious impression on this event.
Prediction
With a completive field of athletes entered in this year Women’s Championship Coxless Fours event, I think it will be a tight race. I predict the Leander crews to come out on top with Thames and Oxford Brookes following closely behind and Cambridge after that. However, the Tideway can shake things up quite a bit so it will be interesting to see the final results of this race.
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