In the lead-up to the Women’s Eights Head of the River Race, it will be exciting to see how these top crews stack up against one another. Many clubs have been able to enter two eights into the championship category, which is a strong indicator of depth within these clubs. With four of the six clubs entered based on the Tideway, many of the crews will be familiar with the course. So, these strong crews will be eager to get some race practice in on the championship course before the pinnacle of the winter racing season.
Molesey Boat Club
The Molesey Boat Club women’s squad have had a fantastic start to the season, with their first eight taking home wins in both the Remenham Challenge and Rutherford Head. With two strong eights entered, there is no doubt that the Molesey women will be coming for the championship eights pennant at Hammersmith Head.
Thames Rowing Club
The Tideway giants, the Thames Rowing Club women’s squad, have entered two crews into championship eights. With these boats likely to be made up of their fifth and sixth eight athletes, it speaks to the immense depth within the squad that they are still in the championship category. Although Thames Rowing Club are unlikely to win the pennant against the first eights of other strong clubs, it will be interesting to see how they perform against their second eights.
University of London Boat Club
The high-performance University of London Boat Club (ULBC) women are another club that has entered two eights into the championship category. As a result of earlier season cancellations, this will be the first opportunity of the season for the ULBC women to put down a strong performance marker before the Women’s Eights Head of the River Race. Led by Tom Gale, their winter training programme will have more than prepared them to take on the other strong clubs within this category.
Predictions
The lack of racing thus far means it is hard to tell how clubs are performing. However, based on the impressive markers put out by the Molesey Boat Club women, I think they will win the Women’s Championship Eights pennant at Hammersmith Head.
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