Fours Head has become arguably the country’s greatest head race over recent years, with its popularity soaring to levels which means some clubs don’t manage to get spots to race at all due to a limited number who can eventually take to the water.
Not to be mistaken as a dress rehearsal for races to come, a win at this race is impressive and certainly something to hold in high regard. The skill and grit required to come out on top over this formidable course in ‘small’ boats is something not all posses, in fact this race provides such a challenge that the coaches from the British team deem it worthy of their athletes taking the weekend away from Caversham in order to take part.
There won’t be any national team athletes in this event, however, as it is restricted to club crews only. This means we see the entry dominated by local crews who should know this course well.
Thames RC
A club that has established itself as the premier club for high-performance club rowing and arguably the top ‘club-level’ club in the world owing to their Henley record, Thames are a name that one cannot ignore when it appears on the entry list.
They have two crews entered in this event, in addition to the many others they have in the sweep events which have become the more common hunting ground for Thames. The ‘A’ boat of these two features ex Reading University athlete Rachel Heap who will add international-quality to this boat. This will be a strong outfit and gunning for the win, the only thing that will hinder them is starting behind several other crews in the event, we’ll wait to see how this might affect them, if at all.
Nottingham RC
One of the visiting clubs attending the Fours Head means the conditions may pose more of a challenge to the likes of Nottingham. That said, this is a club with a strong pedigree that’s fallen away somewhat in recent years, but is always capable of producing quality crews when a crop of athletes comes together. With some experienced athletes in this particular boat, they are one of the clubs who could provide an upset, placing higher than expected.
Tideway Scullers School
It is a shame to hear about the demise of the senior squad at Scullers following the departure of Head Coach, Keiran Clark towards the end of last season. A club that had positioned itself as one of the forces of women’s club rowing and winning multiple events at Henley Women’s, they should on paper be amongst the top crews in an event like this.
Let’s wait and see how the club is getting on this season, a positive result here would certainly go a long way to reasserting the club as one of the best in the country.
Upper Thames RC
Upper Thames is an interesting club, located on the famous Henley stretch and surrounded by all the great and the good of the rowing world, it certainly has the resources to churn out really competitive crews.
However, it doesn’t, at least not consistently.
They have a few women’s crews entered across the Fours Head draw, encouraging signs that a women’s squad is being built. As a club with such a strong reputation I am excited to see how they all do and indeed their Club Quad could be an important part of the build towards bigger and better things.
Prediction
Among the other entries are locals London RC and Mortlake AA, both with multiple entries, visiting from a little way up the river come Molesey and from further afield the likes of Cantabrigian and Royal Chester who could very well produce some high placing crews.
To take the win in this event, I reckon Thames have it in the bag assuming they don’t run into any issues.
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