Henley Women’s Regatta 2021 – Junior Coxed Fours

Held over 1500m on an iconic stretch of river, Henley Women’s Regatta provides the opportunity to show off the calibre women’s rowing throughout the UK. The junior four category this year appears competitive with 16 crews entered. This will provide an exciting opportunity to see the best of the best race and as always, there is much anticipation building into the event over who will walk away with the Groton School Challenge Cup.

Lady Eleanor Holles BC

Two crews will be representing Lady Elenor Holles BC in this event with both an A four and B four racing down the track. The A four of Isabella Sutherland, Katherine Crook, Alexandra Morgan, Sienna Black, and cox Rebecca Parkin previously raced at National Schools’ Regatta this year within the A final achieving 5th. These girls will be looking to continue to build their performance and provide an even stronger race heading into the time trial on Saturday Morning. 

Marlow RC

Marlow appears to have put a strong crew out into the junior four event this year after the crew achieved silver at National Schools Regatta this year. The crew consists of Eloise Brindle, Isabella Checkley, Molly Newman, Elizabeth Hollis, and Neave Stark and so remains unchanged heading into Saturday’s time trial. Furthermore Molly Newman and Eloise Brindle have had previous success at Henley Women’s winning in the J16 coxed four in 2019. With the high level of experience in this crew, they will be going to bring some confident and exciting racing to the event. 

Henley RC

Hoping to retain the title in the junior fours from 2019 is Henley RC, and they look to be one of the strong forces going into the competition. They had a strong performance at National Schools’ Regatta with Ella McKay, Evie Tinegate, and Blair Fitzgerald all being members of the gold-winning championship coxed four crew. There are two new additions of Tess Lewis and their cox Francesca Whittle who both raced to achieve silver in the championship eights, this crew appears to be promising and should provide some exciting racing down the course.

Latymer Upper BC

Also choosing to race a four this weekend are Latymer Upper school with their crew of Kiana Mirrazavi, Elena Yu, Anthea Lamy, and Isabella Sheppard Wolfgramme all coxed by Zoe Walton. Isabella Sheppard Wolfrgramme achieved a bronze in the Championship Eight whilst both Kiana Mirrazavi and Elena Yu placed 3rd in the J16 8+ at National Schools’ Regatta so it will be exciting to see how they manage the step up into the Junior 4. The only member of the crew not to have raced sweep at NSR is Anthea Lamy who raced a double. It will be interesting to see how this crew come together and race down the track hopefully producing a powerful race. 

Headington School BC

Despite never having raced as a crew before the four from Headington school look to have a good lineup. Freya Jones and Rose Crawford raced together at National Schools’ Regatta where they achieved a silver in the 2nd quad. The crew also have two J16s in Maggie McGuiness and Bea Swanton who raced in the J16 quad achieving silver and J16 2nd quad with bronze respectively. It will be interesting to see whether these girls can make a successful switch from recently racing sculling into the different sweep technique.

Glasgow Academy

Another firm favourite is the crew from Glasgow Academy after their impressive win by 19.9 seconds at National Schools’ Regatta in the coxless four. The crew of Orla Johnson, Darcie Rae Dupont McCann, Morven Thomson, and Kendall Armitt remains unchanged with the only addition being their cox. It will be interesting to see how they have built on their successes and whether they are able to maintain their success over the shorter course of 1500m. 

Walton RC

After achieving silver in the coxless four at National Schools’ Regatta, the crew from Walton Rowing Club are set for a good race this weekend. The crew consisting of Elysia Rushworth, Hannah Look, Francesca Morland, and Lola Hewitt remains the same since the National Schools’ Regatta with only their cox added who should give some extra support to the crew. This four will be amongst the crews adding to the high standard of rowing expected within this event. 

Tideway Scullers School

Tideway Scullers School are putting out what appears to be a new crew combination for Henley Women’s Regatta this year. Despite this three of the rowers, Sophia Waddington, Olivia Janss Lafond and Aurelia Elliott raced at National Schools’ Regatta together in the coxless quad making it to the B final. With the new addition of Analisa Janss Lafond and Freya Lovric-Kemp, who competed at NSR in the coxed four achieving a bronze, this should hopefully make for a fast crew combination who is one to definitely keep an eye on. 

Aberdeen Schools RA

Another new crew combination will be representing Aberdeen Schools RA down the course. Within the crew are the winning National Schools’ Regatta pair of Zoe Beeson and Maisie Aspinall who raced themselves into a lead of 13.5 seconds across the finish line. Alongside them will be Sophia Brew who acts as the only member of the crew with experience racing within this event this season and Sophia Hughson and Erin Gibson who raced in the J16 eight. This crew appears to have a promising balance of a younger fresh perspective from the two younger athletes whilst maintaining a strong base built by the more experienced rowers amongst the boat. 

Sir William Perkins’s School BC

With all the rowers within the crew making the swap from sculling to sweep after Alexia Fletton, Eve Thomas, and Mara Leigh raced NSR together in the 2nd 4x achieving 4th and Elizabeth Way racing in the Championship quad, it should be interesting to see whether they can make the successful adaptation into the sweep technique for the race. Hopefully, this crew will be able to build on their performance from NSR and deliver a competitive run down the course and time trial result. 

Predictions 

Overall it appears to be a battle for top spot between Henley RC and Glasgow academy but due to the range of new crews and the unpredictable nature of the slightly shorter race it will be an event to watch play out over the weekend. Other crews to look out for who will also be competing: Kingston GS, Emanuel BC, Kings Worcester BC, Haberdashers Monmouth, and the composite crew from George Heriot’s Rowing Club/George Watson’s Stirling Rowing Club.

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Phoebe Horan

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