As the 20/21 season, finally starts after what seems like such a long break, Pairs Head will be one of the first Head races. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Pairs Head has only allowed crews upstream of Hammersmith Bridge to enter, and is limited to 99 entries. There has only been one entry made into the Junior Women’s Pair, but other clubs and schools have also entered Crews that are juniors into the Championship Pairs Category.
Tideway Scullers School
Tideway Scullers have entered the one entry that the W Junior 2- has. Their 2- consists of Ursula Cornelius and Hannah Steven. In 2019, Cornelius placed second in the J16 4x at National Schools’ Regatta. She also rowed up a year, and placed 5th in the highly competitive Championship Girls 8+. Cornelius has also trialed for GB, in 2019 she was successful enough to qualify for the November Early ID’s. Likewise, Steven also qualified for the November Early ID’s. Before rowing for Tideway Scullers, Stevens raced for Thames Rowing Club, where she was selected for the Champ 1x in 2019 at National Schools’ Regatta. Overall this boat will be very strong, given past experience with GB trials and their previous success. Since there is only one entry, this Pair will also be wanting to rank themselves against the Championship 2- and the Club 2- entries.
Tideway Scullers have also entered 3 other pairs into the Championship 2-. In the pair consisting of Cowan/O’Keeffe is great experience. Ruby O’Keeffe rowed in the same 8+ as Cornelius, placing 5th overall in the Championship Girls Eights. She also stroked the Champ Quad at National Schools, again coming fifth. In the same Quad, O’Keeffe also competed at Henley Royal Regatta, but narrowly missed the semi-finals, as they were beaten by ¾ of a length by Headington School.
Auriol Kensington Rowing Club
Auriol Kensington Rowing Club have entered two pairs into the Club 2- and one pair into the Championship 2-. They have had previous success in this race last year, and the year before that. They also have the benefit of training on the course.
Putney Town Rowing Club
Putney Town Rowing club have entered two pairs into the Club 2-. Putney Rowing Club has been keen to keep up their members’ fitness throughout lockdown by taking part in Virtual races. Both pairs consisting of Dawson / Foxton and Rutherfurd / Cerasuolo have shown consistency throughout lockdown, and placed 6th overall in this competition. This club’s entries will definitely be strong, especially if they have carried on the hard work they put themselves through, when in lockdown.
Predictions
Overall, Tideway Scullers have entered a strong selection of pairs, with plenty of experience between them so I would expect to see them placing highly in the mix of Junior, Championship and Club Pairs. All these crews will benefit from training on the Tideway, and know the course extremely well, so it really will come down to who has stayed training consistently through lockdown, and who hasn’t.
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