Since the writing of this preview the Henley Fours and Eights Head 2025 has been cancelled. This preview was written with the assumption that the event would go underway.
Hundreds of crews are poised to charge down the infamous Henley stretch, and attempt to push their way onto the podium along a 3500m course. Competition will be fierce, and ground won’t easily be given, especially not by the raving Junior 16 quads that are set to hammer down this placid stretch of the Thames. Only eight entries into this vehemently contested category set to make for a close and intense battle for victory. It’s hard to distinguish between these young crews thirsty for victory but the ones that I reckon will be fighting hardest to cinch the victory are:
Walbrook Rowing Club
Located just upstream of Teddington Lock, Walbrook Rowing Club stands as a hub for community rowing, with a well established junior programme striving to develop athletes that will bring glory to the club. Bulking out the entry list with three crews entered, I believe Walbrook Rowing Club can prove a definite contender for the top spot, as a highly competitive club.
Marlow Rowing Club
It is hard to skip over the threat that Marlow Rowing Club pose to this title – one of the premier rowing clubs on the Thames, and indeed in the country, with an extremely well-established junior programme, and a string of positive results at both club and National levels. Marlow’s quality of coaching and competitive drive have given a big name to the club, and looking at their previous results, with good reason too. Notably, they secured victory in the Championship Coxless Quads at the School’s Head of the River 2024. They also have the benefit of a home advantage, albeit a little further downstream on the Thames from Henley, which definitely doesn’t hurt!
Molesey Boat Club
It would then, having talked about Marlow Rowing Clyub, be remiss of me to leave out Molesey Boat Club. Another well-established Thames club, acting as a GB High Performance centre, with an outstanding junior program that feeds into high performance crews and squads, Molesey utilises an excellent coaching program, and history of success across the board in order to push their crews to the limit. Having placed second in the School/Junior coxless quads at Hampton Head 2024, just 10 seconds behind first, Molesey Rowing Club will be wishing to build on this success and take a victory at Henley to add to their already impressive record, and funnel their crews into a year of fierce competition and podium placements
Prediction
Overall, I do think that this will be a title that won’t be gained easily, and will lead to crews pushing themselves above and beyond to best each other, with all the crews entered being Thames clubs, and therefore understanding the intricacies of the river, and making use of the inherent rivalry between them to push on to victory. However, there can only be one champion, and I believe that the results will look something like this:
1st : Marlow Rowing Club
2nd : Molesey Boat Club
3rd : Walbrook Rowing Club
A very tough call to make, and I think that first place has the potential to go home with either Marlow Rowing Club or Molesey Boat Club – but as we know, rowing is an unpredictable beast, and the trophy could end up going home with any entry… Especially if Henley Rowing Club pushes on with the home advantage!
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