Continuing into head season brings all the action back into the tideway for the first time since the pairs head back in early October. The course is raced over 4 and a quarter miles of the tideway meaning that crews have the challenge of dealing with the notoriously strong flow of the thames as well as the challenge of other water users. The schools 4+ see’s 23 crews entering in the band 2 competition. With the sheer number of entries the racing looks to be very interesting.
Bedford School
The first club thats making an appearance is Bedford School Boat Club. Racing under the name of Toms. The club had an appearance at the national schools head in March very early on in the year. Coming 11th in the championship 8 and 9th in the schools first 8.
St Paul’s School
Making an appearance in the band 2 category of the 4+ is Saint Paul’s Boat Club. St Paul’s Boat Club had a very impressive appearance at the pairs head taking 2nd in the open J18 championship pairs as well as 3rd in the open J18 senior doubles to name a few of the results. Spielman, the competitor named in the St Paul’s boat of band 2 also put in a valiant performance at pairs head by coming 13th in the open J18 intermediate doubles. Saint Paul’s as a club were also responsible for sending several crews to the Boston assessment racing on the 16th November but had their highest sculler place 15th.
Abingdon Boat Club
The next club to make a featured is the three crews from Abingdon Boat Club under the names of McConnell, Engwell and Pickess. Abingdon, as a club, made their debut at the Wallingford long distance sculls near the start of the head session with multiple appearances across the board. The crews in question of McConnell, Engwell and Pickess all didn’t make an appearance or we’re not named. Having also not featured at the roster of the pairs head it’s difficult to guess what to expect of the crews but with three boats in this class you can expect a strong finish from this club.
St George’s College
Following the Abingdon crews is the two Saint George’s College Boat Club racing with the crews racing under the mysterious names of SGC J18 4A and 4B. Though Saint George’s Boat Club haven’t sent any crews for Pairs head or for the national schools head they are a reputable rowing club and certainly has potential to bring something out for the band 2 schools 4+.
Radley College
Next in the lineup is the lone crew from Radley College Boat Club under the name Goschen. Radley made several appearances in the national schools head gaining noticable results in with a 4th in the championships 8’s and 6th in the schools 2nd 8’s. With these results under the belt early on in the year they look like strong competitors going into 4’s head.
Dulwich College
Dulwich College Boat Club makes their appearance in the event as well with Polaris. Dulwich look to be another dark horse in this event with the club not making an appearance at the pairs head or Wallingford head and only put in minor performances in the school’s 2nd J16 8’s and the School’s 1st J16 8’s. Making this club an outsider in the 4’s race.
Monkton Combe School
Monkton Combe School Boat Club also make an appearance in the band 2 division with Bennett who was also racing in the pairs head as well. The crew from Monkton in the 4+ category is named as Bennett who also put in an appearance in the pairs head and came 4th along with Ford in the open J18 intermediate pairs.
Royal Shrewsbury School
Royal Shrewsbury school have a very good sweep programme and are no doubt in great form for the first big fours race of this season. They have one crew in this event, but as they have two crews in band 1 it will be interesting to see if they try to make a point by beating their teammates. They are one of the best crews in this event so it should be a close fought race between the Royal Shrewsbury school crew and St Pauls.
Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School
Even though their crews are not from the tideway and may not be familiar with the tideway’s cruel habits, I think that these crews could be high in the rankings with a podium position possible. They might be wanting to get ahead of the other crews at the start of the head season.
Being the first big fours race of the season I am sure we will see some good, close racing. Personally I think it will be between St Paul’s School and Royal Shrewsbury School. Bit I am not denying any of the other crews a top spot and maybe even the gold. I look forward to the hard fought racing and hopefully nobody gets caught out by the horrible tideway conditions.
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