The 2024 edition of the Head of The Charles will be the 59th edition of this celebration of rowing. For three days in the fall, the rowing world will set up camp on the banks of the famous river as our sport has its autumnal homecoming. 2627 crews from 833 clubs will be racing this year over the twisting and turning three-mile battleground, including 22 entries in this category.
Sophia Luwis and Audrianna Boersen
The defending champions are back and leading off this field. Throughout the 2024 season, these two lightweights have been representing the United States in the single scull. Sophia Luwis took silver at World Cup II while Audrey Boersen placed fifth, second and eighth at World Cup II, III, and the World Championships.
Becky Wilde and Mathilda Hodgkins Byrne
Chasing down last year’s winners is the first of our international crews. Becky Wilde and Mathilda Hodgkins Byrne will be oh-so familiar to British readers after winning an epic bronze medal in the Women’s Double over in Paris. The duo came together earlier this year and had to navigate the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta but gained speed every time they raced culminating in one of the best British moments of the Olympics. Becky and Mathilda are amongst an armada of Olympians making the trip over to HOCR this year and the level of talent on display in this field is second to none. They head to Boston racing for Leander and Upper Thames respectively.
Margaret Cremen and Aoife Casey
Speaking of Olympic Doubles, here’s another. Margaret Cremen and Aoife Casey raced to fifth place in the final edition of the Lightweight Women’s Double in Paris and are part of a giant contingent of Irish Rowers descending on Boston. The two scullers know each other inside out, having rowed in international crews together since the 2017 Junior World Championships as well as the Tokyo Olympics. With no shortage of Irish pubs in the Boston area, Casey and Cremen will feel right at home and be given a huge Irish American roar as they race through the bridges of the Charles. The duo will race for Lee and Skibbereen.
Jenny Casson and Jill Moffatt
Not to be confused with Kingston Rowing Club in southwest London, Jenny Casson and Jill Moffatt race under Kingston Rowing Club, Ontario. Like the Irish, this duo raced together at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics in the Lightweight Double, where they placed eighth overall at the latter.
Alice Gnatta and Elisa Mondelli
Another entry and another dose of Olympic experience, HOCR is quickly becoming the Paris reunion. Alice Gnatta and Elisa Mondelli were part of Italy’s Eight that reached the final at Stade nautique de Vaires-sur-Marne. It was the crescendo of a remarkable campaign to follow. After missing out on a place at the Olympics at last year’s World Championships, Italy duly went through FOQR which they stormed to victory in having won the Eight at World Cup I. The beginning of a new Olympiad is a great opportunity to try something new and this should be an incredibly exciting combination to watch tear up the Charles under the banner of Gruppo Nautico Fiamme Gialle.
Lola Anderson and Hannah Scott
Two of the biggest Team GB stars will be donning the cerise of Leander Club. Lola Anderson and Hannah won arguably Britain’s most thrilling gold medal of Paris as they rowed through the Netherlands to snatch gold in the Women’s Quad. What followed was a social media storm as both became faces of the Great Britain Rowing Team and Team GB as well. Scott graduated from Princeton as a two-time Ivy League champion and placed fifth at NCAAs during her time studying in the US. Anderson, who plied her craft at Newcastle University will be cheered on by the Blue Star Club and their Men’s Alumni Eight featuring another gold medallist in the form of James Rudkin. Having snuck in some practice at Bann Rowing Club, Scott’s home club, this is set to be a celebration of everything the World and Olympic champions have achieved in recent years.
Cassidy Deane and Shannon Kennedy
Another Canadian crew to keep your eye on, Cassidy Deane and Shannon Kennedy bring even more Parisian flair to this category. While Kennedy narrowly missed out on qualifying the Canadian Women’s Quad at FOQR, Deane was part of the Canadian Eight that won a silver medal over in Paris. The summer did deliver some highs for Kennedy. A week after FOQR she and her quad bounced back to win the Princess Grace Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. Coached by the highly skilled Lauren Fisher, this is an additional mouthwatering entry.
Prediction…
I expect the two British boats to be fighting it out for the top spot. That being said it all depends on how much training they’ve done in recent weeks…
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