The road here has been winding as crews have clashed up and down the country – and even overseas – but this Saturday, the crown jewel of the British head racing season will come to a climax as hundreds of crews will race down the championship course. For the fastest of those crews, the ultimate prize is the Fairbairn trophy, awarded to the overall winning crew over the famous 4¼ mile course – the ultimate prize in the British head racing.
Leander Club
In 2024, Leander set a new course record to win their first overall headship in almost a decade. This year, they will lead the field down the Championship course, with a crew likely to be stronger compared to twelve months ago. The addition of Paris reserve Will Stewart to the provisional lineup brings greater international pedigree to this crew overflowing with project LA athletes. Based on GB trials results, they should have the faster group coming back from Caversham, adding to the Henley-based group who have picked up headships on the Trent and Avon during their spring tour of England. Now fighting for the most important headship of all, the top athletes will have the pressure on, but they more than have the talent to deliver.
Oxford Brookes University
Having worn bow number one for the last five editions of this race, Oxford Brookes University will be looking to right the wrong from twelve months ago. However, this year’s campaign has been far from easy. Race cancellations and much-discussed off-the-water issues have limited racing time for the Wallingford squad with their last race in a big boat coming at the Shanghai Head back in September, finishing fourth overall behind both Cambridge and a GB crew packed out with Leander athletes. Despite this upset, Oxford Brookes remains a top-notch programme with their fair share of talent returning from the project LA group and are not to be overlooked. Starting second and third on the river this weekend, they will have the Leander crew trained between their crosshairs, with the only acceptable outcome being the Fairbairn trophy having a burgundy hue once again.
Thames Rowing Club
Beyond the two clear favourites, a few other contenders are bubbling under, most notably the dominant force on the club rowing scene: Thames Rowing Club. The Putney-based club will be rowing on home water in this race, and with the quality of their ever-growing squads, they will be ones to keep an eye on. They have kept their powder dry this season with the exception of a few private fixtures. Still, with dozens of Henley winners in the boathouse as well as some top recruited talent including James Rudkin – the only Paris Olympian on the provisional entry list – I wouldn’t count them out for a decent shot at their first headship since 1956.
London Rowing Club
Their neighbours from the other end of the Putney Embankment, London Rowing Club have been growing to meet the challenge from 150 metres away, raising the standard of club rowing to previously unseen heights. Recently seen as the ‘little brother’ to Thames, they made a significant statement on a national after finishing seventh and tenth in this event last year. After losing to Thames on Saturday at Henley Royal Regatta, they have reloaded this season, once again seeking to chase down Thames, finishing just a few feet short of them in their private Bousted Cup match. It would be a real surprise if they won their 15th headship on Sunday, but they could end up in the mix for a medal if all goes well.
Cambridge University
A big name buried a little deeper in the draw, Cambridge University will start 23rd after their third eight came from deep in the middle of the pack last season to post an impressive result. This year, the light blues have two crews on the start list, but it is still unclear as to which crew will take their first spot, with the expectation being a provisional Goldie crew. Mentioning a second eight in the conversation for an overall headship is a strong move but this strength of the squad this year is phenomenal, with a number of multiple boat race winners likely to be on board. Combine that with their season-long fitness peak being just a couple of weeks away, the Cambridge crew could be one to upset the party as they filter onto the timesheets a little later than their other competition.
Upper Thames Rowing Club ‘C’
In a field short on Olympic pedigree, the masters D crew from Upper Thames makes up for that with great enthusiasm. Alongside two Henley-based masters rowers, this crew has two world-class talents each from Germany, Australia and Great Britain. From these six come 18 Olympic appearances, 13 medals with seven of them being gold. These legends of the sport, highlighted by James Cracknell and Drew Ginn, will start fiftieth on Saturday, and while it is unlikely they will be too close to lifting the Fairburn trophy, they could give a real scare to a few crews half their age.
Prediction
I can’t look past Leander for the headship this year, they have performed strongly in fixtures, regional heads and should only get faster with the strength of their athletes returning from Caversham.
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