Arguably one of the two biggest head races in the world, next of course to Head of the Charles, Head of the River the climax of the British head racing season. From its humble beginnings in 1925, when just 21 entries started the race, the field has grown exponentially. Over 300 crews will take to the Tideway with the aim of winning the entire event, taking home some silverware, or just achieving a good placing.
With prizes plenty up for grabs, the Bernard Churcher Trophy is amongst the most prestigious. Any university or college boat club is eligible to win, including overseas entries. The sheer quality that the category encompasses, from Oxford Brookes to Imperial, Durham, and Edinburgh means that the race should be a cracker.
Oxford Brookes University BC
A university boat club that has dominated rowing in Britain over the past couple of years, to say that Oxford Brookes has a strong programme would be the understatement of the century. Since 2013, a Brookes boat has won Men’s Championship Eights at BUCS Regatta every year, and several wins each year at Henley Royal (where they won “only” three events in 2022 compared with six the previous year), further evidences the sheer winning power of Brookes.
Never ones to rest on their laurels, the current crop of Brookes athletes have already proven their worth, with victories over Oxford and Cambridge in recent fixtures to add to wins at Wallingford and Reading University Heads. Brookes has entered a staggering nine crews for the event and given their famous quality in depth, one would expect one of these crews to walk away with the Bernard Churcher trophy. It will take a crew of uncommon skill and drive to de-throne the Brookes machine. Whether it can be done remains a matter for the rowing gods to decide.
Imperial College BC
Imperial appears to have encountered something of a renaissance this season, with gold medals in Men’s Championship Coxed Four and Men’s Intermediate Coxed Four at BUCS Head to add to silvers in the Men’s Championship Eight and Men’s Championship Coxless Four. Add in some strong trials performances (a highlight of which included a 14th place finish for Harry Stevens and George Shaw), and IC look to be strong contenders to go toe to toe with Brookes.
Imperial crews of the past have tended to perform well in this category, coming in second place last year and in 2019. Imperial will also hope that a recent loss to Bristol earlier this month in some side-by-side pieces is not a symptom of things to come. With the race essentially being held in their backyard, Imperial coxes with know these waters like the back of their hand, and will need to have their wits about them in order to find the ever-evasive ‘free speed’.
Will 2023 be the year that Imperial finally gets over the line and proves itself as a force that is still reckoned with in British university rowing? We shall wait and see.
Durham University BC
There was a time when Durham University was the force in university rowing that Oxford Brookes is now. From 2004-2013, Durham won the overall Victor Ludorum at BUCS Regatta every single year. This outstanding period of dominance combined with a smaller streak at BUCS Head left the men in Palatinate occupying the top of the rowing tree.
After an inevitable downturn, Durham has shown signs in a previous couple of years that they are back to its best once more. A Durham crew made the semi-final at Henley in the Temple, Durham collected the overall VL at BUCS Head for the first time in eleven years and had several strong trials results, including top ten finishes in U23 Men’s Pair from Andrew Mettrick, Gus John, George Reed, and Jack Roberts. A win may be beyond Durham, given that Brookes has continued to do what they do best, but a strong placing is clearly within reach.
University of London BC
University of London BC, has one of the richest histories of success in producing athletes for the national team. Every British Olympic team since 1960 has had a member that once earned their keep along the dark and damp section of Tideway where UL trains. Despite the success of years gone by, and continued success at the national and international level, it would be fair to state that UL had not quite hit its stride for some time, that is until the recruitment of Anthony Smith.
Smith, who plied his trade incredibly successfully in the junior powerhouses of St. Paul’s School and LEH, seems to have brought some of his success to the next level, though of course winning ultimately depends on the athlete. Seventeen of the current squad trialed for GB in November, one of the largest squads from any university, speaking volumes of the depth of talent within both men’s and women’s programmes. Of those who reached February trials, particular praise must go to Joe Middleton, who finished as the second fastest U23 sculler, an astonishing feat for a rower still in their first year at university.
UL had three eights inside the top 70 last time around at HORR, including an eighth-place finish which they will look to build on this weekend. Whilst Brookes and Durham seem to have endless quality and depth, UL can be quietly confident that they have more than a decent shot of setting down a marker this weekend.
Edinburgh University BC
Under the guiding hand of former Leander oarsman Colin Williamson, and more recently the disciplined approach of men’s coach Lewis McCue, the Baby Blue Army has been building an impressive programme for some time now. This culminated in a season of firsts in 2022. First Scottish crew to win the Men’s VL and overall VL at BUCS Regatta, the first Edinburgh women’s crew to win a round at Henley (upsetting bookies favourite, Sydney, in the process), and one of the largest entries of any club at Henley last year.
Thanks to some smart recruitment, Edinburgh’s first eight is a mix of seasoned veterans, such as seven-seat former GB junior Henry Pooley with new less established but no less impressive names. Chief amongst these is Josh Matthews, Stirling’s finest son, who has crafted an impressive rowing resume including a GB vest in last year’s U19 World Junior Championships. Having been sidelined for much of 2023 through illness, Matthews will be a valuable addition to a crew that appears to be responding well to cox James Deardon’s approach.
A bronze at BUCS Head proved a good start this year, but the absence of UL and Brookes means the Head of the River is a real test of the metal of such a crew. Edinburgh has proven that they can hold it with the best, but who knows if this new first eight (so far untested apart from a successful outing to Inverness Head) will hold up against the competition down south. Previous form and the endless quality of good boats churned out year after year implies that the men from Scotland will certainly give it a good hard try.
Prediction
Based on their form and squad depth, I wouldn’t be prepared to bet against a Brookes boat to win this category. In terms of placing, Durham should be up there as should Imperial and Edinburgh, with Durham slightly favoured over both and the other two too close to call.
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