As the rowers wait nervously to hear if the red flag will be lifted, let’s take a look at the crews hoping to take to the wild waters of the Tideway this weekend for Hammersmith Head. This race which, for many, is a vital part of their final preparations for the iconic Women’s Eights Head of the River, sees crews brave the elements along the Thames between Chiswick and Hammersmith Bridges. With many crews promoting their A crews to the Championship category, the door is wide open for clubs to show off their squad depth and come out on top of this experienced lineup.
Vesta Rowing Club
There’s no sense in discussing squad depth without first highlighting Vesta Rowing Club, who have consistently produced impressive women’s rowing performances over the past few years. Likely to be one of the frontrunners in this Club Eights event, the crew secured a respectable 6th place finish at Quintin Head in recent weeks, as well as three crews achieving top-50 placements at last year’s WEHORR event. With their top eight occupying a spot in the Championship category, Vesta will be hoping to secure a top spot in events across the board, with the Club Eights being no exception.
University of East Anglia Boat Club
Hoping to live by the words of their motto – ‘fortune favours the brave’ – as they battle the elements, are University of East Anglia Boat Club. No other women’s boat entries from UEA suggests this is their top crew who have had a successful string of performances already this season. These include third-place finishes at both Peterborough Head and Isle of Ely Head, as well as taking home a win at Cambridge Autumn Head at the end of last year. Taking to the tideway, UEA will be hoping to prove that home water can only help their opposition so much, and their recent performances keep them in the running to come out on top at this stage.
Lea Rowing Club
Also ones-to-watch are Lea Rowing Club who will be hoping to continue the success of the incredible year they had last year, where highlights included securing their first women’s eight to compete at Henley Royal Regatta. Assuming this is their top eight due to the lack of entries from them in the Championship category, this crew has had multiple successful competitive performances already this season including a win at Docklands Head, as well as a top-10 finish at Quintin Head. Lea also managed two crews securing spots in the top-50 at last year’s WEHORR and thus are no strangers to the conditions they could face this weekend, but no doubt are well prepared for them, nonetheless.
City of Cambridge Rowing Club
Finally, one of the crews hoping to shape up ready for WEHORR are City of Cambridge Rowing Club who recently took home a win in the first of their three Winter League events taking place on the River Cam. Similarly to Lea, an absence of entries from City of Cambridge in the Championship event lets us assume this is one of their top eights who recently secured second-place finishes at both Cambridge Winter Head and in the Women’s Eight group at Quintin Head, despite only being able to race for time. With these strong race performances and positive results already in the bank this season, City could be optimistic with their chances of a respectable placement amongst the pack this weekend, despite not being on their home water like some of the other crews entered.
Other crews in this event include crews from Southampton University Boat Club and Queens College Cambridge Boat Club, as well as several crews who call these temperamental waters their home; such as Royal Free & University College Medical School Boat Club and Furnivall Sculling Club, to name a few.
With 19 entries, there’s no shortage of potential for exciting racing in this women’s Club Eights event, and with cancellations plaguing the long-distance season so far, crews are even more raring to get out there and show their opposition what they’ve got to offer. This, along with the abundance of experience on the waters of the Tideway means this race is shaping up to be a tough battle to emerge victorious.
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