Conversation:

With the rowing world slowly emerging from its hibernation, all eyes were firmly fixed on the first significant event of the year: Pairs Head.

Run entirely by volunteers from Barnes Bridge Ladies Rowing Club, Pairs Head allows clubs to test themselves – and their peers – early on in the season; even if most of the crews will amalgamate into larger boats come the summer months.

2019’s race saw just over of 400 crews battle for the Headship on the Tideway, whilst an organisational dilemma limited this year’s entries to a mere 99.

Jo Broadhurst, Chair of the Pairs Head Organising Committee, shed some light on what turned out to be quite the dichotomy and their reasoning for limiting crew numbers:

“We could be economically viable is we could run without closing the river, and if Hammersmith Bridge were closed, we would be less likely to need to close the river due to the reduced traffic flow.”

So then, the answer was simple: hold a smaller race to create a safe, economically viable event. In overcoming this initial hurdle, however, the committee had opened themselves up to a torrent of additional problems that would need marrying to the ideal solution. The first on this list of quandaries was to decide which crews would make up the 99 that the PLA would allow on an open course.

“The decision was taken to only allow Upper-Tideway clubs to compete. Lower clubs began asking whether they could carry their boats around the closure, or boat from an Upper club. We stuck to our guns, as we didn’t want to add additional stress by asking clubs to host outside crews.”

Fair enough. After all, under British Rowing guidance clubs hosting anothers are required to implement a string of procedures that might detract from the joy of racing after six-months away from the circuit.

After racing finished, the feeling that the event was a success was almost universal, which poses a crucial question: does Pairs Head provide a template for future Tideway heads? Jo suggested that whilst there are aspects that could be carried forward, there is one fundamental flaw that must be addressed.

“It would be very sad indeed if the whole Tideway calendar came and went without any Lower Tideway clubs participating.”

Jo’s sentiment is one which we share and would extrapolate even further to say that it would be a huge disappointment if only Tideway clubs – Upper or Lower – could race the Championship course this year. Fours Head, Eights Head and Schools’ Head (in addition to Pairs Head) are all crucial mainstays of the head season, and whilst we must, of course, take heed of the requirements of Covid-secure events; races run exclusively for London clubs would do nothing to further the cause of dispelling the waft of elitism that has plagued the rowing world for too long.

Ed Evans

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Junior Results:

Pairs Head 2020 marked the start of the racing season on the Tideway. Although there were fewer entries than in prior years, the crews that took to the water managed to bring some exciting racing back to help to kick start the season. The Junior crews, in general, appeared to be strong with a few being able to place amongst the championship and club categories; securing a very strong place overall.

Open Junior Pair

The Open Junior Pairs category had only one entry from St Paul’s School Boat Club. The crew of Rizk/Ackrim completed a strong race managing to achieve a time of 15:48.89, leaving them amongst the top 20 in the competition. This time put them only four seconds behind the winning Club Pair of Bubb-Humfryes/Budenberg which shows that they can compete to a high standard against crews outside of the junior categories.

Open Junior Double

The Open Junior doubles event, made up of crews from St Paul’s School Boat Club, Team Keane and Emanuel School, allowed for some exciting racing over the weekend. The St Paul’s School BC double consisting of Gillard/Kwok had an impressive race managing to come in first place, close to a minute ahead of the second-place Team Keane crew, as well as ranking an overall 7th in the competition. St Paul’s also entered a double into the Open Championship double event, which competed well to achieve an overall second-place showing the vast capability and strength within St Paul’s rowing programme this year.

Women’s Junior Pair

Similar to the Open category within the junior pairs event, the women’s junior pairs saw only one entry to be made, this time from Tideway Scullers School with a crew of McWilliam/Steven. The pair managed to perform a strong race to achieve a time of 17:53.63, and they also were able to beat one of the crews within the women’s championship pairs event from Auriol Kensington Rowing Club, showing the powerful racing they brought to the course.

Women’s Junior Double

This event saw the most crews competing out of all the junior categories. The five crews were made up of Team Keane, Emanuel School, and Tideway Scullers School. The Tideway Scullers School crew consisting of Regan/Waddington took the win in this event by 20 seconds showing the skilled and forceful rowing that they brought onto the river. The rest of the crews provided for an intense battle for the rest of the placings as it came down to only 2.75 seconds between the second crew from Team Keane (Raymond/ Weir) and the fourth from Emanuel School (Varley/Kitchen).

RowWithTheFlow

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That’s all for now. If you’re hungry for more, check out any of our other pieces from The Catch, listen to the latest podcast episode, or flick through our race previews.

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