Since this preview was written, the Henley Fours and Eights Head 2025 has been cancelled. This preview was written with the assumption that the event would proceed.
As we reach closer and closer to the end of the head racing season, we look at some of the more prominent regattas to entail where crews may place at Head of the River Race and beyond. Henley Fours and Eights Head is a perfect example of strong, predictive racing. The roughly 3000m head race is an upstream battle on the world-famous Henley stretch, with the finish lying at the same place as the equally famous Henley Royal Regatta. The quads are the pinnacle of fast-paced sculling, with the best sculling crews taking battle in the senior men’s quads. With the multi-lane racing looming around the corner, we look to see who is showing the best strength in this category and how they handle the unforgiving Henley conditions.
Reading University Boat Club
With an impressive six crews entered, Reading University Boat Club makes up the majority of the entries here. No doubt wanting to produce some fast times, their recent show in the doubles at GB February trials showcased their ability to put down quick times in crew sculling boats. Matt Long and Ed Fuller* (facilitator) came fourth overall and produced the fastest U23 time, with Long also taking the quickest U23 time in the single at November trials. Ryne Robson and Robert Collen took ninth overall and third for U23 times. William Buckingham and Harrison Green took the seventh U23 spot and 13th overall. The positive shift of scores from the November trials and the sheer size of the squad competing shows how training is paying off for the Reading University students. Back in the early days of the season, Reading University also competed at Henley Sculls, taking a clean sweep of first, second and third in the quads and first and second in the band one single and first in the band two singles. It proves the class of the athletes Reading University has produced and showcases their ability to win on the Henley stretch. The top two quads are looking particularly strong, and it would take a world-class crew to beat them.
Leander Club
Defending home waters, Leander Club is a powerhouse for GB selection. While looking at the results from February trials, Cedol Dafydd, doubling with Twickenham Rowing Club’s Callum Dixon, won overall, with Jamie Gare and Tobias Schroder taking second. Rory Harris and James Cartwright took fifth overall. With some solid results, Leander’s dominance over its rivals is highlighted. However, with fewer Leander crews competing, there’s reason to believe that the top squad members may not be in these races. It leaves the floor open to the other members to prove their speed and show what they can do against strong competition.
Predictions
There’s not a lot of choice in this event, with only one crew not being Reading University Boat Club, so the question is where will Leander Club place? If it is the four top athletes from Leander, I believe they will take the win, with minimal pressure from Reading University (but not none!). However, I believe those guys aren’t racing, so we’re looking at a slightly weaker Leander crew. In that case, I think Reading University will take the win in a dominant performance, with Leander having a small gap behind for second, with Reading University’s ‘B’ crew close behind. It will then trail out with growing time intervals for the rest of the Reading University crews.
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