Hammersmith Head 2025 – Women’s Intermediate Eights Preview

Now just three weeks out from Women’s Eights Head of the River (WeHORR), crews up and down the country are looking for every opportunity to get out and race following a string of cancelled events. The intermediate women’s eights category is as well stacked as ever, and competition should be fierce for the win.

London Rowing Club

A powerhouse of the Tideway, London’s women have shown their strength in recent months. Having had two eights place respectably in the championship category at Quintin Head last month alongside one in the senior category, I’d expect this boat to be an iteration of their second/third crews looking to target WeHORR, so I would like to see a solid showing on the Hammersmith course this weekend. It’s difficult to tell which end of this squad this crew is made up of, given only two women’s eights entered from London, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see them take the win on their home stretch in this category nevertheless.

City of Cambridge

A breath of fresh air with a non-Tideway based club, City of Cambridge appears to be sending their top women down for a run down the track this weekend and will be on the hunt for silverware in this category. Edged out to second place in the intermediate 1 category at Quintin, they are potentially the most likely to present a challenge to London, and I’d like to see them chase down some valuable seconds and close the margin pre-WeHORR. They have two eights entered into this category, so one can’t help but wonder if this may be shaping up to be some final pre-WeHORR selection, but I’ll be interested to see how they rank within the field.

Vesta Rowing Club

Another Putney powerhouse, Vesta also have one entry in the championship category and two in intermediate this weekend. We’ve already seen a strong showing at Quintin Head, where their top women’s eight placed second in the senior category whilst showcasing their programme’s depth with an intermediate crew less than 20 seconds behind to take fourth in WInt1. Despite chasing down local favourites London, this crew will also be surrounded by boats who placed higher than them in their Quinitn category, so I hope to see the past few weeks of work pay off and to see Vesta’s women step on to challenge London RC on home waters

Mortlake Anglian and Alpha

Perhaps underdogs of this category, this appears to be the top women’s outfit from Mortlake Anglian and Alpha. Having pipped Vesta’s second eight in the intermediate category to take third place at Quintin, I’m sure these girls will look to better this and claw back some valuable seconds on their local rivals, including favourites London RC. I don’t imagine it’ll be enough to snatch the win from the grasp of the embankment clubs, but I think that MAA are most likely to have a crack at it, and I hope to see a gutsy row down their home stretch.

Notable Mentions

Likely also using this as valuable preparation for upcoming events, this is the first time we’ve seen the University of Exeter venture to the Tideway this season. They often have incredible depth within their women’s squad, so I hope to see a fast score on the door for them this weekend. Lea Rowing Club are also often seen punching with some of the bigger London clubs, and after what may have been a generally disappointing performance at Quintin for them, I hope to see their whole squad having stepped on as a unit to climb the ranks this weekend.

Predictions

Despite having fewer women’s eights entered than expected for their squad size, it’s still difficult to look past London Rowing Club to take the win in this one. Given recent showings, including their performance in the Rayner Cup against Thames Rowing Club, I expect they’ll take advantage of being on their training ground and likely take the win here. I imagine that it’ll be a close race between Vesta and City of Cambridge for second place, but equally wouldn’t be surprised to see Mortlake Anglian and Alpha up there too. It’ll be all to play for on the Tideway this weekend, and whatever happens, I hope to see some close racing.

About The Author

Lara Robinson

Having first sat in a boat aged 13 at Stratford upon Avon BC, Lara’s love for the sport has only gone from strength to strength. Now Women’s Captain at City of Oxford RC and in her second season writing for JRN, she primarily covers student and club level women’s rowing alongside her day job as a neuroscience researcher at the University of Oxford.

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