As January draws to a close, the Head race season has resumed after weeks of suspension racing due to exceptional weather conditions. On Saturday the 3rd of February, rowers will take to the 3km Hampton stretch, downstream from Sunbury lock. After missing out on multiple races towards the end of 2023, this race will serve as a brilliant opportunity to recover lost racing experience, as well as a chance for both competitors and coaches to appraise their training during this compromised period. The results of this weekend’s short races will no doubt reveal some of the top competitors for the regatta season, which is quickly on the horizon.
Hampton School Boat Club
It goes without saying that Hampton are top competitors in their own race. On top of being familiar with the course, last year at Hampton Head, two Hampton crews dominated the J14 division and, having seen that Hampton have again entered two crews into this year’s J15 race, it is likely the same boys will be fighting for the top spot, further shifting the odds in favour of success.
Dulwich College Boat Club
Although we haven’t seen this squad of Dulwich rowers race at Hampton Head before, after a brilliant row at Quintin Head earned them second place just two weeks ago, this crew will undoubtedly be one to keep an eye out for.
Westminster School Boat Club
Finishing fourth at Quintin Head, Westminster will have to work hard to bridge the gap in time for Saturday’s racing in order to win the top spot. That being said, Westminster’s Tideway stretch will have equipped them with the invaluable skill of navigating choppy waters, which may come in handy with the quick streams the Hampton stretch is currently facing. On top of this, coming third to Hampton at last year’s race still leaves them as a crew to keep an eye out for.
King’s College Boat Club
Although it is often difficult to establish when Kings College may appear and dominate a race, it seems like their current J15 eight is one to watch. Following a fifth-placed ranking at Quintin Head, they’ll be right up there at the business end of proceedings. It’s their trophy to lose; their J15s prevailed in 2023 with a ten-second lead on the next fastest crew. Could this year’s J15s repeat such a success story?
Radley College Boat Club
Notorious for their success in eights, it is self-evident that the Radley crews will be top contenders for first place. Given last year’s J15s upheld Radley’s standard for success, dominating both head and regatta season, it will be interesting to see how this year’s crews live up to the hallowed name.
Predictions
It seems that Hampton should be victorious this weekend, with Dulwich close behind, followed by Westminster and Kings who may be fighting for third. We haven’t seen much of Radley this season, so it’s hard to work out how they will place, but it seems given Radley’s history, this crew will be up there with Hampton and Dulwich fighting for the top spots.
– that_stroke
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