This weekend marks the penultimate race before the double-headed apogee of winter; the School’s Head of the River and the Scullery. There is a good mix of competitors within the eight entrants, ready to take on a 4.7km stretch of the Thames, as they scull through Reading.
Sir William Perkin’s School RC
Just last week these girls finished third at Hammersmith Head, behind Tideway Sculler’s School and Shrewsbury School; both of whom are not racing this coming weekend. Being a club home to two girls who raced at the February GB Assessments; placing very respectfully; 10th and 20th in the junior women’s scull, suggests that this boat will carry speed. This school also put out a crew that won this event at Weybridge Winter Head; putting them in very high contention.
Marlow RC
Marlow have been producing rapid junior girls quads for many seasons now and I’m sure both their; A and B boats entered here will be very strong. At Quintin Head, their squad of junior girls won the Quintin Hogg Memorial Prize, for having the lowest aggregate time along the course, telling us that they began this year well, as a club. They have also had a number of girls race successfully at GB trials recently and were the winners at Quintin Head- I have no doubt that they will be in form.
Shiplake College BC
At Hammersmith Head, this quad were 1 minute 22 seconds off winning pace and 1 minute 18 seconds behind Sir William Perkin’s School. It would be great to see these girls step up their game this week and close the gap.
Bedford Modern School BC
A month ago, these girls won at Bedford Eights and Fours head, in a field of four, over a short course. Impressively ‘Read’ placed 15th in the single scull at GB February Trials and then 2nd (at day two of the event) in the double- with a Marlow RC partner, who could be rivals this weekend in this category.
Queen Anne’s BC
Earlier in the season, this club produced a second place finish at Reading head, losing to Great Marlow School and beating Canford. There are no results for these juniors in 2019 and so I’m interested to see how they fair this Saturday.
St Edward’s School BC
This school have not put out a racing quad in many months, with no results for this category to be found. Yet, there is no doubt that they will have been training diligently behind closed doors, even if this isn’t their preferred boat class.
Prediction:
1.Marlow BC
2. Sir William Perkins School
3. Bedford Modern School
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