JRN

Head of the Trent 2023 – Women’s Eights Preview

Head of the Trent returns this weekend for the first time since 2019. After four years of Covid and weather disruption, the biggest head race in the Midlands is back. The Women’s Eights have eight crews entered in the Band 1 and 2 categories.

Nottingham RC

Nottingham were the winners of this event when it was last held in 2019. The home crew will look to replicate this victory on the course they know so well. Recently their ‘A’ crew placed seventh in the Women’s Championship category at Quintin Head, with their ‘B’ crew fourth in the Women’s Intermediate. After a few more weeks of training both crews should improve on these performances this weekend.

City of Bristol RC

In their last race outing City of Bristol placed sixth in a stacked field at Henley Fours and Eights. This followed a win in the Senior Women category at Quintin Head. The Head of the Trent will be an exciting prospect for the crew, looking to take some scalps on their trip to the Midlands.

Leeds University BC

At BUCS Head last weekend Leeds University placed 18^th and 19^th in the Women’s Intermediate Eight event, with less than a second separating them. If these matched crews can form a stronger top boat they could improve on these results significantly this weekend. It will be interesting how they fare against non-university crews.

University of Nottingham BC

Nottingham University are another crew who have just returned from BUCS Head. Here they placed 15^th in the Women’s Intermediate Eight. They will be looking to put in a strong performance on home territory and take bragging rights over local rivals Nottingham rowing club.

Others

Agecroft, Worcester and Royal Chester are also entered into this event. The former placed second in 2019 but with a different line up will likely struggle to make the podium this time round. Smaller clubs Royal Chester and Worcester will aim to take valuable racing experience away from the Trent.

Prediction

Nottingham University will get the win this weekend, with the university crew being too strong for City of Bristol and Nottingham RC. Second place will go to Bristol, who were just faster than Nottingham at Quintin Head. The latter will finish ahead of Leeds in third.