The 2024 head season is now well underway, and this Sunday, 10 WJ16 eights will take on the 4.4km course in hopes of coming away victorious. With the clock ever-ticking towards Schools’ Head, these young crews will be keen to indicate their intentions as the pinnacle of the junior head racing season looms. With a myriad of winter miles completed, and the majority of fixtures being cancelled due to flooding or unsafe river conditions, crews and coaches alike will be curious to see how the results of their training programmes compare with other strong clubs. Considering several crews in the WJ16 8+ category boast the Tideway as their home river, and with many reputable clubs placing in entries, I am certain we are going to see a tight set of results this weekend.
Surbiton High School Boat Club
It is undeniable that Surbiton High School have had a strong start to this season. They have worked tirelessly to build a reputation as one of the strongest rowing clubs for girls in the country, and this year is no different. They finished just behind Henley Rowing Club at Quintin Head, in a highly commendable second place. In addition, they fought hard for a third-place finish at Hampton Head, where Wimbledon Boat Club took the win, only 12 seconds ahead. They will be keen to demonstrate their strengths when they face Wimbledon again on Sunday. Entering two crews, doubles their chances of success, simultaneously indicating the depth within the squad, which they will be keen to use to their advantage.
Headington School Oxford Boat Club
Headington also boasts a strong reputation, however, with the somewhat disappointing head season we have experienced so far. The WJ16 squad at Headington is strong and large again this year. They took second place at Wallingford LDS, as well as gaining experience in small-boat racing, claiming 7th, 8th, 9th, and 12th in WJ16 1x in the afternoon division. Headington built strong foundations in the 2023 regatta season, claiming gold at National Schools’ Regatta in the WJ15 4x+, and another victory in the WJ15 2nd 8+. They will be keen to build upon these foundations throughout the rest of the head season and assert their dominance on the Tideway ahead of the nearing major events. After spending October on a training camp in Italy, they will be confident in their crew selection, and I look forward to seeing how this will benefit them.
Wimbledon High School Boat Club
Wimbledon High School have undeniable prowess in the sweep discipline, particularly the 8+, in which they are currently national champions after snatching gold at National Schools’ Regatta by just 0.3 seconds, overcoming the pressures of Surbiton High School, who finished nine seconds behind. They will be wanting to replicate this at Hammersmith this weekend and will be confident they can continue their positive beginning to the season. They demonstrated their strength in a first-place finish in the WJ16 8+ at Hampton Head. Alongside the fact that the Thames is their home river, I believe Wimbledon are the crew to beat.
Predictions
All crews entered into this category are ones to watch in my opinion, and other notable entries include Team Keane Sculling School, and Tideway Scullers School, who appear to be moving from strength to strength. Their programme, overseen by head coach Rhona MacCallum, who has just won the British rowing ‘Talent Coach of the Year,’ is synonymous with success. However, I believe Wimbledon has had a stronger start to the season, and will claim victory on this occasion, with Surbiton High School and Headington School battling for the second and third-place finishes. However, I do feel it is all to play for.
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