One of the first races for many crews since the New Year, Hampton Head will give crews a chance to test the waters over a short head distance of around 3000m. There are just over 20 entries for the WJ184x category, many having raced each other earlier in the season in the Fours Head of the River.
Tideway Scullers School
The Tideway crew look formidable in this event having won Fours Head in November and Henley Women’s Regatta last July. They also picked up a win in the WJ18 2x Championship event at Pairs Head; as well as I.Lack placing 2nd and E.Davies 5th in The Scullers Head, along with four other athletes between 7-19th, demonstrating both the strength and depth in their sculling squad. It will be interesting to see whether the crew adapts to the shorter racing distance in order to claim the win.
Henley Rowing Club
After starting the season by placing 7th and 8th at Wallingford Long Distance Sculls, they improved on those results by finishing 3rd at the Fours Head in November. They will look to progress further and challenge the Tideway crew, especially over a shorter distance which they demonstrated their strength in last season by winning National Schools’ Regatta.
Wallingford Rowing Club
This crew has also had a strong start to the season having won their home event, Wallingford LDS and then placed 6th at the Fours Head. They also have two trialists this season who came 9th and 19th at the Early ID Assessments, so will look to use this individual strength as they come together as a crew.
Shiplake College
Shiplake have yet to post any results in the quad; however, they have shown form in smaller boats as N.Dunn won the WJ17 event at the Scullers Head and Knight / Gerecke were second in the WJ18 2x Intermediate at Pairs Head. They will look to use these foundations in smaller boats to build up the boat speed as they move into the quad.
Kingston Grammar School
This crew placed well in Fours Head coming 7th, building on results from smaller boats earlier in the season such as 4th in the WJ18 2x Championship at Pairs head. They have two boats entered into the event demonstrating the depth in their squad and they look to be in a good position to place well if they can maintain their form from before Christmas and build on their boat speed over the short racing distance.
Putney High School
This crew have experience rowing together after winning the Band 2 event at the Fours Head. They also had five athletes race the Scullers Head, with the top result being 9th in the WJ18 category. With two boats entered for this event, there could be the added competition within the squad as well as with other clubs.
Predictions
The top spots look to be a contest between Tideway Scullers, Henley and Wallingford, but I think Tideway may have the edge having picked up wins already this season. However, as a shorter head race there could be some upsets, as some crews adapt better or worse, to the shorter course.
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