This weekend’s fixture welcomes an array of tideway clubs and promising university talent. The crews that are entered as part of this line up will look to test themselves against some of their nearest competition as the finale of head season looms on the horizon, the Head of the River Race. It’s an opportunity to assess whether those early mornings and tedious amounts of mileage have given you the tools that you need to compete for honours as the fruits of your labour come into sight. With a stop-start head season behind us, and brighter days coming, Hammersmith Head could be the turning point that some athletes will have a longing for.
London Rowing Club
Having had considerable early season success, London RC will be looking to build into the spring and enjoy sustained successes against their nearest and dearest on home waters. Taking the headship at the Remenham Head in November, and beating Thames RC in the Boustead Cup only a fortnight ago, London couldn’t have asked for a better start. With this, however, comes expectation. Having tackled and defeated a dominant force in British Rowing, London will be considered worthy rivals of their local neighbours as we head into the sharp end of the season.
Thames RC
Everyone knows what Thames RC are capable of, and what their objective ought to be. Losing at Remenham Head by a mere two seconds, nothing more than a bad stroke, it could be thought that Thames are within their right to expect a different result this time around. Whether this will happen, however, remains to be seen. Having lost to London when they raced side-by-side in the Boustead, it’s difficult to speculate whether there is more to give from Smulders and his men or it might simply be the case that their position of dominance in club rowing is finally being challenged.
Molesey BC
Molesey BC will be the outsiders this weekend, and I don’t think that they’ll mind this. Not being a tideway club, and being somewhat deprived of success relative to their stature in the sport, their performances might slip under the radar. Since Tuck has taken the helm as Head coach, Molesey has been something of a project, and this weekend gives them the perfect opportunity to upset the applecart. Having had a disappointing result at Rutherford Head of the River and a third place finish at Remenham Head, the focus for those in the black and white is progression. It can be said with certainty that going into this weekend they will have placed a target on the backs of their tideway competition.
University of London
Under the guidance of Antony Smith (Smithy), the purple-clad brethren are mounting a slow and steady comeback after the crushing disappointment of Henley Royal Regatta 2023. Last season was one to forget for UL, which gives them the perfect springboard to kick on in 2024. Whether they can stand up to the might of Thames and London remains to be seen. Traditionally, the fastest student boats are quicker than the fastest club crews but that tide has turned a little in the past few years (with the obvious exception of the freakish Brookes program).
Prediction
Contrary to what most people might think, Molesey BC will have a good chance at winning this weekend. It goes without saying that London RC should be the favourites for this race, though Thames won’t be easy to defeat. Each of these three clubs will continue to face off for the highest accolades that the club scene has to offer and will, respectively, take their fair share of victories. It’s virtually impossible to separate them in the form of a prediction though you always have to be sceptical about good things, and when they must come to an end.
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