Each year Henley Fours & Eights Head is always a well-attended event featuring some high quality crews. The course is 3km long and includes the iconic Henley Royal Regatta course, finishing at the regatta finish. The Men’s Band 1 Quads will be no exception to this, with both junior and senior crews entered, the variety in this event will undoubtedly produce some exciting results.
Henley RC
With two crews entered in the Men’s Band 1 Quads, Henley – with their boathouse a mere few hundred metres upstream from the finish under the iconic Henley bridge – will be looking to put both their quads as high up the time sheets as possible. With both bowmen of the Henley quads being juniors, I’m assuming both of these crews are comprised of entirely juniors, all of whom will be working towards the Fawley Challenge Cup event at Henley this year. Henley RC had a strong season last year, claiming fourth at National Schools’ in the Championships Quads category and reaching the Friday of the Fawley Challenge Cup. Also, the bow man of Henley ‘A’, Dan Landau rowed at Leander last year, claiming bronze in the quad at National Schools’. This pedigree for such young crews puts Henley in a strong position to take the win in this event.
Reading University BC
With three boats in this event is Reading University, a stronghold for British student sculling, Reading has always done well at this event in the past. After getting their season off to a strong start with a win the Academic Quad event at Fours Head, Reading will be looking to build on this with a win in the Men’s Band 1 Quads. As regatta season approaches, Reading will be building towards key events such as BUCS Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta, and races such as Henley Fours & Eights Head will help them determine their fastest combinations. With slightly older and more experienced athletes compared to Henley, Reading will be a serious contender for the win in this category.
Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School BC
After an up and down season last year, this junior crew from Borlase’s will be looking to put themselves forward as a serious contender for the Fawley Challenge Cup, having not been in the final since they won back in 2015. After coming 12th in the Championship Quad event at National Schools’ last year, Borlase’s turned their form around to have an impressive Henley Royal Regatta. Reaching the Thursday, losing to Henley Rowing Club by only a length, the same crew that beat them by eight places at National Schools’. With a rematch between these programmes imminent at Henley Fours& Eights Head, watch out for Borlase’s as potential underdogs.
Prediction
I believe that Reading University ‘A’ will take the win in this category, followed by Henley Rowing Club ‘A’ and then Reading University ‘B’. Although I expect them to do well, I personally don’t see Borlase’s placing in the top three of this event.
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