With the new year in full swing, Quintin Head returns to the Tideway for what will undoubtedly be a successful showcase in sweep. Retaining its tradition as an eights-only head race, Quintin’s 4600m course from Chiswick Bridge to Harrods Wharf provides crews with a picturesque yet notorious challenge.
Clubs
As all crews will hope to set the tone for the business end of their season, we are likely to see particularly fierce competition among the Women’s Championship crews. the prior sweep successes already shown this season by women from clubs including Tideway Scullers School, London Rowing Club, and Thames Rowing Club lead us to believe that these clubs will all be competitive. Thames has put a lot o effort into growing their women’s squad, and as a club that has dominated the men’c club scene in recent years, we can expect big things from them this year. Vesta Rowing Club are also entered, and it will be exciting to see how they stack up to their club competitors.
Universities
Beyond the highly talented women’s sweep crews hailing from clubs, we must not rule out the university crews who will take to the water hungry for glory. Based on recent trips to the Tideway for their trial eights this past month, both Oxford University have generated a supernumerary supply of high-performing women’s sweep athletes. With two entries they seem like favourites. However, the ongoing dominance of Women’s Championship Eights by student sides including Oxford Brookes University and University of London is hard to ignore, with both being entered. We don’t often see them pitted against the Oxbridge crews and this will be one of few opportunities to compare.
Prediction
Overall, the standard of women’s sweep this year has been second to none, which excitingly leaves race predictions wide open as we approach the final few months of head season. It is all to play for in this first major eights event of 2022. My prediction is that Oxford ‘A’ will win, with Oxford Brookes and UL following behind.
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