Hammersmith Head takes place this Saturday on the Tideway. The course is approximately 2 3/4 miles from Chiswick Bridge to Hammersmith Bridge. The weather on the tideway can be very temperamental so coaches may be using this race to test the steering ability of their coxes as we come into the regatta selection period. I have no doubt that rowers will be eager to race in new combinations in preparation for GB spring trials and internal boat club trials. With only four crews entered into this category it will definitely be interesting to see who comes out on top.
St Pauls Girls School
St Pauls girls have had a successful start to the season, achieving third place at Fours Head, only 0.4 seconds behind second place. Their B crew came tenth in the same category. The girls from St Pauls achieved third place at Fours Head in Junior Challenge Fours, with their B crew coming 10th. At the same Head race St Pauls also came twenty third in the Junior challenge coxless quad. Other than those results we don’t know too much about the crew entered so it will definitely be interesting to see if they will be able to come out near the top against such tough competition.
Lea Rowing Club
Lea have had some very promising results this year. The girls in the Junior Championship 4+ took gold at the recent Fours Head of the river and placed second in the WJ18 8+ at Junior National Championships last year. Lea Rowers also came both third and fourth at Pairs Head, showcasing their experience with racing on the Tideway.
Putney High School
The girls from Putney had an extremely successful year in fours last year, with two boats reaching the final of the school G4+ category at the National Schools Regatta in May. The first boat claimed a very convincing gold and the second finished in a commendable seventh place. At Pairs Head in October last year the school placed first and sixth in Championship pairs, along with gaining valuable experience of tideway racing. Putney additionally placed second at Fours Head, just behind Kingston in the Junior Championship for category, fourth at Schools Head in the Junior Challenge Quad and first at Bedford Head earlier in the season. Due to their vast squad depth and experience with head racing, notably on the Tideway, I would expect the girls from Putney High School to place very high up in this event.
Godolphin and Latymer School
Godolphin and Latymer have produced some good results this season, taking fourth in the Junior Championship Coxless four at Fours head alongside 6th and 7th in the Junior Challenge four. Their best result last season was making the A final at NSR in the coxed four.
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