The Page Trophy is awarded to the fastest crew that rows on the Thames or its tributaries but not the Tideway. This is the opportunity for a number of clubs and their crews to claim a trophy from one of the biggest events in the rowing world. Frequented by returning crews year on year, this trophy is a difficult one to win as it features one of the better club crews in British rowing.
Molesey BC
Molesey BC are one of the more successful clubs in domestic rowing and should by all accounts claim a victory in the Page Trophy. Having raced a number of times already this season, Molesey have had the opportunity to find their stride where other clubs might not. It has, however, been a difficult start to the season for the Molesey men. Losing to their tideway rivals London RC and Thames RC at the Remenham Challenge and Newcastle University at Rutherford Head, Molesey have been close but have ultimately fallen short at each attempt. Losing to London RC at the Hammersmith Head, Molesey have yet to close the gap between themselves and the competition they’ll wish to challenge. Whilst this has been the case, the Page Trophy remains a good opportunity for Molesey to close the head season on a high.
Marlow RC
Marlow RC will be the nearest competition for Molesey having placed highlight at Quintin Head. Finishing 6th behind a number of Thames and London crews, Marlow have shown that they’re more than capable of being within touching distance when racing against the fastest crews. Beating Leander, Eton and Shiplake on this occasion it remains to be seen whether they can replicate such a positive performance again at the Head of the River. With this being the only notable race that Marlow has taken part in this year, it can only be assumed that this is a taste of the crew that we’ll see throughout the remainder of the season.
Upper Thames RC
Upper Thames RC are firm outsiders heading into this weekend but they shouldn’t be written off. It’s difficult to predict what crew we might see from the Henley outfit though they have in the past provided us with a number of crews that are highly competitive. That being said, it’ll require a strong performance from them if they’re to challenge Molesey and Marlow for the title.
Prediction
Despite having fallen short so far this season, Molesey are one of the fastest club crews in the country. The amount of racing that they have had this season also exceeds that which their competition has had. Marlow performed strongly at Quintin and if they can find speed of this kind on Saturday then they have every chance of at least competing for the trophy.
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