Hammersmith Head 2019 – Women’s Junior 18 Eights

Hosted by Auriol Kensington RC, the Hammersmith Head course runs between the Chiswick and Hammersmith Bridges. With a draw which comprises of mainly local clubs for this event, many of whom will train regularly on this stretch of this river, it will be exciting to see how the event pans out.

Marlow RC

Marlow juniors have done very well over the past few seasons, with wins at events including British Rowing Junior Championships and Fours and Eights Head, as well as for the J16 women at Henley Women’s Regatta. The crew won the WJ18 8+ category at Quintin Head, putting them in a strong position for this race, as competitors included Team Keane, over whom they had a significant advantage.

Lea RC

The Lea junior women have also had a rather successful start to the season. Various members of the squad raced at 2018 Junior Inter-Regional Regatta. This year, the squad has had many opportunities to improve their racing, including a training session with the Cambridge University Lightweights. In addition to this, at School’s Head 2018, they took 5^th place in the Championship eight. The girls have also had successes across various categories at the first Molesey Junior Trial Head which took place this year, and also won the W Ch/Jun coxless four event at 2019 Fuller’s Head of the River.  

Reading Blue Coat School BC

Another smaller club than some of the others entered, Reading Blue Coat School BC has nonetheless grown somewhat in recent times. Recently the club has taken on Allan French as head coach, and his experience coaching Oxford Brookes University and GB U23 Women’s Eight is sure to help the boat club in continuing their successes.

Team Keane Sculling School

Perhaps one of the less well-known clubs which has entered a crew for this event, it will be interesting to see how the Team Keane crew do in this event. The crew raced in the WJ18 8+ at Quintin Head, with a respectable time of 16:41 given their newness to the boat.

Great Marlow School BC

Great Marlow School BC is becoming increasingly successful. Over the past few years the squad has grown considerably, and won events at races including Schools’ Head, The Scullery, National Schools’ Regatta and British Rowing Junior Championships. At 2018 Upper Thames Autumn Head, the club came 5^th in both the WJ18 2x and 4x- categories, and later took 3^rd place in the WJ18 8+ at Wallingford Head of the River.

Predictions:

1. Marlow RC
2. Lea RC
3. Great Marlow School BC

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