The Championship Lightweight Single event has 11 women entered to go through the time trials at this year’s Henley Women’s. With a few strong entries, and some unknown international speed, it’s anybody’s game. Yet who are the key names to look out for?
Tideway Scullers School (Alice Metcalf)
Alice Metcalf is a very experienced sculler, having won a coveted red box in the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup last year with a blazing-fast Tideway Scullers Boat. Metcalf also took part in the Home International Regatta representing England in the Junior Women’s 4- just last year. Despite her young age, Metcalf will position herself as a strong contender to reach the finals, and she will be the first off for the time trial in this event down the course to establish her strength immediately. She is surely one to watch now and into the future as one of GB’s up-and-coming.
City of Oxford (Hazel Wake)
Going off just after Metcalf in the time trial is Hazel Wake. Wake brings with her an extensive rowing CV to this event. She has raced for the Dark Blues in the lightweight boat races, although came out on the wrong side of the previous two results. She will be looking to demonstrate her prowess again at HWR after winning gold in the championship lightweight single at BUCS. Representing City of Oxford at Henley Women’s, Wake will surely be strong from the off, ready to avenge her Boat Race results, especially given a Cambridge entry (Claire Cooper) in this event.
KRV 77, Germany (Pia Otto)
Potentially one of the strongest international threats is Pia Otto coming from Germany. Otto has international racing experience under her belt, in 2020, her lightweight quad ended second in the European U23 Championships. Previously, Otto has also competed in coastal rowing events. This year, Otto will be looking to make a challenge in the single
Durham University (Caroline Rijske)
Out of Durham in this category is Caroline Rijske, a previous winner of the intermediate lightweight double at BUCS and the lightweight double trophy at Henley Women’s in 2023. Rijske has done well in the way of GB lightweight rowing, and will definitely put a strong fight up in this event, but she will surely be tested against some incredible opponents. A previous GB trialist, Rijske will have loads of racing experience to use to her advantage.
Cambridge (Claire Cooper)
Representing the Light Blues, Claire Cooper will be looking to test her single strength against some strong competition in this boat class. Cooper has a lightweight Boat Race win under her belt, sitting in the two seat that competed down the Tideway this March. Cooper ended sixth in the A final of the Intermediate single at BUCS and has moved up to compete against the top scullers in this event.
Schuykill Navy, USA (Riona McCormick)
One of the few American entries in this event, Riona McCormick is a Boston University lightweight alumna, while also having competed with University of London in 2022 in one of their Island Challenge Cup crews. Riona will be looking to channel this experience down the Henley stretch this year and make it through to Sunday as she is facing some incredibly tough competition.
Prediction
Hazel Wake and Alice Metcalf look poised to make the final, and a race between these two would be riveting, but a strong international entry from Pia Otto could always throw a spanner in the works for Wake and Metcalf.
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