Coming into 2025, Quintin Head is the first major Tideway race for crews to use as an opportunity to showcase their winter training. We saw a very competitive junior women’s sweep season last year, which has set the circuit up nicely for a repeat performance. Quintin Head will allow crews to see how they fare on the infamous Tideway, in preparation for the bigger head races still to come.
Marlow Rowing Club
Leading the pack is Marlow Rowing Club. Coming off the back of a successful season, with their junior women’s quad reaching the final of the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup, Marlow Rowing Club will be keen to build on this success. Whilst they typically prioritise their quad, Quintin Head is all about the eights. Marlow know how to produce a well drilled eight, demonstrated by their eight making it to day three of Henley Royal Regatta last year, despite being their ‘B’ boat. I think this Marlow boat will be one to watch out for over the weekend.
St Edward’s School Boat Club
St Edward’s School’s Boat Club’s rise to the top last year is one to marvel at. After coming eigth at the School’s Head of the River last year, they managed to translate this into second place at National School’s Regatta. With one of their athletes also representing GB at Coupe de la Jeunesse last summer in the Junior Women’s Eight, this ‘Teddies’ crew will be wanting to show their talent. Looking back to past results, Teddies typically perform better at summer regattas than the winter head races, based off this, I predict St Edward’s to be slightly more in the middle of the pack, knowing they have more speed to come later in the year.
Shiplake College Boat Club
Shiplake College Boat Club are another crew to watch out for. After coming third at Quintin Head last year, (they would have come first if they didn’t get a 10 second penalty) Shiplake will be wanting to redeem themselves. Last season marked a transition for their women’s side, moving from prioritising a top squad quad to an eight. This payed off early on in the season, however left them falling short at National School’s Regatta, coming fifth. Shiplake are known for creating winter speed and so I predict they will come away with a win at the weekend.
Surbiton High School Boat Club
After a somewhat underwhelming season for Surbiton High School Boat Club last year, they will be wanting to re-establish their dominance in junior women’s sweep. With one of their athletes having raced at the Junior World Championships in the coxless four, they will be looking to use this experience to drive up the rest of their squad. Having come second at Teddington Head earlier this season, it seems that Surbiton are eager to improve upon last seasons results.
Godolphin and Latymer Boat Club
A squad on the rise, Godolphin and Latymer Boat Club should not be forgotten. After winning the West End Amateur Rowing Association Trophy for Junior 16 coxed fours, their current Junior 17 squad is one of the strongest that Godolphin has ever had. With Quintin Head being raced on their home stretch of the river, their cox will know exactly what line to steer which can provide a huge advantage. I predict Godolphin to be near the front of the pack, battling for podium positions.
Prediction
In the absence of Headington School Boat Club’s first eight, it opens the pack for the rest of the field. I predict Shiplake College to come away with the win, with the rest following closely behind.
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