Hammersmith Head held between the Chiswick and Hammersmith bridges, is another exhilarating head race which will welcome hundreds of rowers to compete on the Thames for a chance to add another gold medal to their respective club’s collection. Boasting a number of categories such as eights, quads and fours, the annual racing usher in a new part of the season, big-boat-bashing. A key event which always produces some stunning racing is the WJ18 8+, a competitive field in which top junior crews will race. Key crews, such as Headington, Molesey and Lady Eleanor Holles Boat Club are all ones to watch as they navigate their way down the tight corners of the Tideway.
Headington School Oxford Boat Club
It’s no surprise that Headington is first to be mentioned in this review, and rightly so. An incredible season in 2023 showed their top 8+ to have a dominating year. With wins at National Schools’ Regatta and Henley Women’s Regatta, as well as a semi-final finish at Henley Royal under their belt, their ability to produce eights is truly venerable in the rowing community. If Headington are looking to continue their masterful control in this category a win at Hammersmith would start to solidify their name this season. While producing consistently powerful eights year-on-year is much easier said than done, it’ll be interesting to see if Headington can manage to pull it off.
Molesey Rowing Club
A recurringly successful junior programme, Molesey Rowing Club has established itself as a powerhouse in the rowing world. While they may not have secured as many victories as Headington in the eights, Molesey’s consistent performance and strong presence in the rowing community cannot be overlooked. With a history of producing talented rowers (many of whom take on the GB pathway) and maintaining a high level of competitiveness, Molesey are likely to be a decent contender at Hammersmith and throughout the upcoming season. Their known ability to adapt and excel with different crew compositions will hopefully show in Hammersmith.
Lady Eleanor Holles Boat Club
With their women’s J18 four starting off the season with a strong second place at Hampton Head, their eight may prove to be a powerful competitor at Hammersmith. If their 8+ can come together and back up the performance of the four, then LEHBC may be a force to be reckoned with. As they continue to refine their skills and develop as a team LEHBC will likely be a daunting presence especially now that summer regatta season is fast approaching. They now have a notable presence on the water, which has led them to build a competitive name, one which ensures that they will be contenders in any race they enter.
Predictions
While I believe Headington will come out with the win for this race, that is mainly based on past results and it must be known that with a new season comes new contenders. If Headington are knocked down from their position at the top of the women’s eights, it’s surely going to be a year for fast-paced and competitive racing.
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