As another head season commences, crews will hope for a dryer racing season than last year provided. Last year was inundated with event cancellations, which meant crews had fewer opportunities to try their hands at longer courses. Receiving over 450 entries this year, this season’s Fours Head of the River Race is set to be fiercely competitive. This event is the season’s first major event and presents the first opportunity for competitors to compare themselves against rival crews.
Reading University Boat Club
An ambitious boat club focussed solely on sculling, Reading University Boat Club will not hold back its efforts to claim this category and take the win. By entering four crews into this category, Reading demonstrates the depth of talent within their squad.
With crew members who have competed in The Prince of Wales Challenge Cup at last season’s Henley Royal Regatta and attended the most recent GB U23 trials in November, Reading are arguably the most experienced scullers in this category, giving them the best chance at achieving their goal.
At the recent Henley Sculls, Reading’s senior men took a clean sweep for the men’s quads by claiming first, second, and third, starting their season with style. Coming into this event, Reading will be after victory and nothing else.
Bath University Boat Club
A vibrant student rowing club with an excellent sculling programme, the University of Bath Boat Club produces highly competitive rowers and has many successful alumni. Their line-up for this category features Archie Norton, who has returned from the recent GB trials as the 14th U21. Also in the line-up is Jack Norton, who won a bronze medal in the Open Championship Lightweight Single Sculls at the British Rowing Championships last season. This crew will hope their sculling prowess can overturn their rivals from Reading and come away with a win.
University of Nottingham Boat Club
Another entry with an excellent reputation, the University of Nottingham Boat Club consistently performs well and makes its presence known at any race it attends. At the 2023 Fours Head, Nottingham placed second and third in this category, with just half a second between their crews. Returning this year with another two entries, Nottingham will likely have hopes to give Reading a run for their money and attempt to claim the pennant.
Queen’s University Belfast Boat Club
With a gleaming track record, Queen’s University Belfast Boat Club never fails to row to the standard people expect of them. Notoriety in the Irish and British rowing scenes, Queen’s is a club that continues to build an international reputation. With two boats in this race, they are giving themselves the best chance at claiming a victory, which is a real possibility for this club.
Having won the senior men’s quad at this year’s Lagan autumn Head of the River Race and many other races in this event, Queen’s University Belfast is starting this head season with a myriad of victories. With an assured ability to dominate, Queens will be a crew to test the mettle of their competitors.
University of Surrey Boat Club
Another familiar name in academic rowing is the University of Surrey Boat Club, which is sure to provide fair competition in this category. Regularly claiming top spots at BUCS events, they know how to play to their strengths to create exciting and nail-biting racing.
Yet to sink their teeth into the head season, Surrey has been focussing on raking up those winter miles to prepare themselves for this head season. With this being their first event, they will want to start their head season with style and provide some excellent sculling to challenge their competitors.
Prediction
With Reading University Boat Club, University of Nottingham Boat Club and Queen’s University Belfast Boat Club all entering multiple crews, the victor will likely come from one of these clubs. With that being said, Reading doesn’t just have a frequency to help them; they’re also a formidable sculling club that will make every effort to set an unbeatable time. Queens are the club most likely to pressure Reading to finish on top and not let them take a clean sweep in this race. It will be a close call between Queen’s and Reading.
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