This Sunday, over 120 crews from across the country will meet in Chester to compete in this year’s North of England Head; the challenging 5km endeavour from Eccleston to Chester on the famous River Dee. At this crucial moment in the season, as head races reach their ultimate showing at Head of the River Race next weekend, clubs will be flocking to the Dee to finalise their race preparations and plans to take on the mighty Thames soon after. Therefore, it will be a masterful demonstration on the Dee this weekend as we can witness the epic confluence of some of Britain’s best rowers across the long stretch for one last time before they take on the Tideway.
Open Eights
As expected, this is an intensely competitive field. Royal Chester RC (A) led by E. Press will lead the pack of Band 1 eights down the Dee this weekend and are likely the favourites to win as well. As last year’s winners, beating out Agecroft RC by just over eight seconds, they will be keen to maintain their title on their home water and also carry this forward to the Thames next weekend where they hope to pick up another top-100 finish. Further, under the coaching eye of Jamie Leighton, the club has jumped from one success to another, so a win this weekend is possible for the home boys. Next to set off, and most likely to challenge Chester for the win, are St. Edward’s School led by C. Horrix. As last year’s third-place finishers, the Oxford-based crew will be looking to improve upon the time of 14:19.5 they set in 2024 and take home the gold this weekend. Furthermore, the Oxford school’s eights have never failed to deliver stunning results and demonstrate the highest level of rowing in Britain. With their fantastic coaching team and reputation for delivering, St Edward’s might just pull off a win this weekend.
Women’s Eights
As for the women’s category, St. Edward’s School, led this year by P. Luttrell-Hunt, appears to be the favourite this year due to the stellar performance of their women’s eights at headline regattas like the National Schools’ Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta Women’s Regatta. All of this is in addition to them being the clear winners in the women’s band 1 eights last year at North of England Head with a time of 15:49.6 – over 30 seconds ahead of their nearest competition from Shrewsbury. However, they will be chased down the Dee by two competent and strong crews from Agecroft Rowing Club and, yet again, Royal Chester Rowing Club. These two clubs have much to offer at this regatta. Agecroft’s women’s squad has been rapidly growing and their 61st overall finish at the Women’s Head of the River Race will give them that extra confidence boost that might just help them pull off a win. Lastly, Royal Chester would have likely been disappointed with their fourth-place finish at this event last year, but under the tutelage of the immense coaching team at Chester, they are sure to be a reformed crew capable of contesting the gold.
Junior Eights
Lastly, the junior eights are as stacked as we have come to expect in recent years. The two apparent top contenders on the open side are The King’s School, Chester, and, once again, St. Edward’s School. At last year’s race, King’s lost out on the gold by a second and have been no doubt on a mission to claim what they believe is rightfully theirs on their home water. In the women’s Junior 18 eight, I’d say that the favourites would be Shrewsbury School and The King’s School, Chester. These two clubs have consistently delivered across British junior racing and the North of England Head, and this weekend is sure to be no different. As last year’s clear winners, The King’s School, with two entries this year led by L. Thornton and E. Montgomery respectively, will be hoping to continue their success and expand that 30-second lead from last year.
Predictions
My predictions for this weekend’s intense North of England Head were challenging to conclude upon, but if pressed, I would give the open eights to Royal Chester RC, the women’s eights to St. Edward’s School and the junior men’s and women’s eights as a double win for The King’s School, Chester. With many deep categories, this weekend’s North of England Head will most certainly be one to watch.
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