It is hugely exciting news for women’s lightweight rowing that Pairs Head are running a lightweight doubles category this year, with five crews entered from four different clubs. There’s a real mix of experience, including some recent internationals, and athletes travelling from all over the country which should make for some exciting racing and impressive times!
Reading University BC
With their renowned sculling focus and strong lightweight squad, Reading University go in as strong favourites in this category. Lauren Maddison is coming off the back of a hugely successful regatta season which saw her selected for the GB team at both the U23 World and European Championships, winning a bronze medal at the latter. Lara Brittain similarly had some good results over the regatta season, and more recently finished first in the Women’s U23 category at Scullers’ Head. Together the two have had success dating back to their part in winning the lightweight quad at BUCS Regatta in 2021, so they should be an exceptionally strong combination.
Hollingworth Lake RC & Nottingham RC
The composite boat of Hollingworth Lake RC’s Leanna Daniels and Katie Cooper of Nottingham RC are travelling down to the Tideway for the second time in a month, having both competed in the Lightweight Senior category of Scullers’ Head, finishing fourth and eighth, respectively. This looks to be a new combination so it will be interesting to see how well they do together.
Upper Thames RC
Across the regatta season, Upper Thames RC showed fantastic depth across their women’s squad and will be looking to carry that momentum into the head season. Ex Oxford lightweight Naomi Holland had some good results last summer, including fourth in the Lightweight Single category at Metropolitan Regatta, replicating that placing in the Women’s Championship category at Scullers’ Head. She’s doubled up with Teunte Tijssen, with the two having some experience together finishing sixth at Nottingham Regatta in 2022 and will be looking to continue to build on that partnership at the head.
Mortlake Anglian and Alpha BC
As a local Tideway club, Mortlake Anglian and Alpha BC have historically boated multiple crews for Pairs Head, with this year proving no exception. In the Women’s Lightweight Double category they are the only club to field two crews, with the combination of Fran Corby and Eleonora Racheeva, and Mina Frost and Hannah Marescalchi battling it out for the intra-club bragging rights. Racheeva’s head season is already under way having raced at Scullers’ Head, and one would expect Mortlake athletes to have good experience training along stretches of the course.
Prediction
Reading start as overwhelming favourites in this category and should also be competitive among the open weight crews. Behind them hopefully it will be a good race between the Hollingworth Lake and Upper Thames, but I maybe just favour Upper Thames to take second. As always with the Tideway, the challenge of navigating the fastest route down the course will play a factor, and it will be interesting to see if the Mortlake athletes can use this to propel themselves up the ranking.
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