As the 2024 head season approaches its rear-end, and regatta races are on their way, the WJ15 8+ category is gearing up and preparing to race at the upcoming Hammersmith Head on Sunday. Spanning a challenging four-kilometre stretch across the Tideway, this race will be a crucial experience for crews navigating a season rife with high tides and consequent cancellations. With the robust lineup of 17 proficient crews participating in this event, we should expect to see a riveting spectacle of skill, determination, and fierce competition that promises to elevate the Hammersmith Head to new heights.
Surbiton High School Boat Club
With impressive results being demonstrated at the recent Hampton Head across both their first and second WJ15 8+ crews, the three formidable Surbiton High School BC boats racing at Hammersmith are poised for triumph this Sunday. Having tied second place with Sir William Perkins and clocking an admirable 8:52.6 on the 3-kilometre course at Hampton, Surbiton’s first eight (SBT – SHAW) will aim to replicate their strength and coordination on the Thames once again. As for Surbiton’s other two crews, I am confident they will be vying for those top positions as well; similar to their first eight, Surbiton’s second eight (SBT – HOLMES) also clinched second place at Hampton, positioning them strategically for continued success at Hammersmith. With this solid foundation, all three Surbiton crews have a highly advantageous position to maintain their momentum and strive for victory.
Wimbledon High School Boat Club
Anticipation is building for Wimbledon Boat Club and both of their WJ15 8+ crews racing this weekend. Only recently have the Wimbledon WJ15 girls marked their debut in sweep events at the Quintin head, and after securing a highly commendable 3rd place position, the girls have been on an impressive trajectory; just shortly after their first taste of sweep races, their WJ15 8+ crew (WHS – CLEMMIE) and 2nd 8+ (WHS – AANYA) managed to claim gold at Hampton Head on the 3rd of February. With their fast succession into victory and winning streak, Wimbledon are sure to be a fierce contender for gold at Hammersmith if they maintain composure and confidence against what will surely be some stiff competition.
Sir William Perkins School Boat Club
The Sir William Perkins J15 girls are sure to showcase their honed skills and racing abilities from their recent training sessions at Dorney Lake. As mentioned previously, they had a strong start to the year and claimed some silverware with their tied second place at Hampton Head but with unfinished business on their agenda, the upcoming Hammersmith Head promises a tight and anticipated showdown. Both recent performances and dedicated training point towards an intensely contested event where every stroke will matter for these girls if they wish to overcome the millisecond margins and claim victory.
Predictions
Given the razor-thin margins amongst teams at recent events, with ties between both Surbiton and Sir William Perkins and a mere six-second margin within top placing crews, predicting podium positions is not an easy feat. With that being said, I do think Wimbledon have the potential to walk away with another win given such strong recent results, but it is evident that the field is tightly contested and, as such, one can expect a closely fought competition between these three teams as well as others not mentioned above like Lady Eleanor Holles Boat Club.
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