It’s the start of the New Year, meaning we’re also around the halfway point of the head racing season, and while the warmer days of regatta races mays still seem far off, what better way to kick off 2023 is there than Quintin Head? The annual eights race is returning to the Tideway at the end of the month, where clubs will no doubt be hoping to show off the benefits of their winter training programs. The event is looking popular this year, made up of eleven entries, interestingly only four of which regularly train on the Tideway.
Putney Town RC
Putney Town will be looking to come into 2023 with the same success they experienced at the end of last year. They kicked off the season well at Upper Thames Autumn Head, where they came second in the Women’s Coxless Four while their Band 2 Coxed Four won the category. Following on from this, their club coxed four came an impressive fifth out of 28 crews at Fours Head, an achievement which was compounded at Wallingford Head where they came third in the coxed four. Being one of the few entered clubs that train on the Tideway, Putney Town’s two entries will no doubt be using their practiced knowledge of the homestretch to its full advantage.
Oxford University Women’s Lightweight RC
If their performance as Fours Head last November is anything to go by, OUWLRC seem to have a strong squad this year, as they placed third in the Women’s Academic Coxless Fours category. With the Lightweight Boat Race less than two months away, the crew selection process will be nearing an end. As such, Quintin Head will be a good opportunity for OUWLRC to get the Blue Boat out practicing the Championship Course under race conditions.
Upper Thames RC
Upper Thames certainly had a good few months of racing at the end of 2022. Their lightweight double came first at Pairs Head, setting them up for a good season as their two eights both came second in Band 1 and 2 at UTAH. Their run of success continued on to Fours Head, where their club quad beat 22 other crews to win the category. So far, their standout performances on the Tideway have mostly been in sculling crews, so it will be interesting to see how they do in the eight.
Vesta RC
Vesta have had an undeniably successful start to the season both locally, coming first and second in the women’s championship pairs category at Pairs Head in October, and internationally, taking away gold in the Women’s Club Coxed Fours at the Head of the Charles. They also had crews racing in the Remenham Challenge, one of which came third in the women’s championship eights event, while their entry into the club eights came second. Given their recent successes, they should be coming into this event with confidence.
Prediction
Looking at previous results, I think this category will make for a very exciting race. I would place my bet on Vesta taking the win, although I can see OUWLRC and Putney Town following close behind.
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