This article was written prior to the event cancellation
With the end of the head racing season coming up fast, the Reading University Head of the River is one of the last opportunities to get some valuable racing experience. With open senior quads racing in division one, division two, and two bands in each division, there are many opportunities to take home some silverware. Many top sculling clubs have entered multiple crews, making this weekend an interesting battle.
Reading University Boat Club
Since switching to sculling only in 2015, Reading University Boat Club has gone from strength to strength. They are now a dominant force at the university level, with their top crews competing with the best quartets in the country. At BUCS head last weekend, they swept up most of the sculling medals, coming first (by over 30 seconds), third in the championship quads, and an incredible 1-2-3-4 in the intermediate quads. At their head this weekend, they have ten crews spread across the two divisions. Given that they will be racing on home water and the very strong season they are currently having, you would expect at least one Reading University boat to come out on top.
Maidenhead Rowing Club
Rowing on the River Thames about 15 miles downstream of Reading, Maidenhead Rowing Club has two crews entered in division one. A club with almost 150 years of rowing history and multiple Henley Royal Regatta wins will have two high-class crews to race this weekend. Given the amount of racing in South England that has been cancelled, their speed is relatively unknown. Both these crews seem to be made up of junior rowers, as they are also racing in the junior quads in division two. Given that their top crew is setting off first in the quads in division one, which implies lots of racing experience, be sure that they will be a strong challenger.
Tideway Scullers School
Another club with a strong history of sculling, Tideway Scullers School has one crew entered in this event. Given some of their other entries at Reading Head, this may also be a junior crew rowing up. Over the years, Tideway Scullers have had some quick junior boats, and this year, they have multiple rowers in the GB trials system. The crew is entered under Henry Pendred, who achieved an impressive 15th place in the single at the recent February trials. Given the pedigree of this crew, they should be in the mix for the top places in the division one quads.
Leander Club
Year after year, Leander Club produces top sculling talent that goes on to win numerous big events and have an unrivalled record of wins at Henley Royal Regatta. Their single crew entered this weekend is another possible junior crew (entered as J2) and given Leander Club’s knack for producing powerful quads, this boat should not be written off. Leander juniors have won The Fawley Challenge Cup twice in the last five years, and this crew may have their sights set on that come summer racing. Setting off last in band one in the morning division, they will be gunning to post a competitive time.
Predictions
Four different event wins are up for grabs this weekend, with two bands of quads in each division. In division one, I think Tideway Scullers School ‘Pendred’ will take the win, with Reading University Boat Club ‘Welch‘ winning band two. In division two, Reading University Boat Club appears set to win both bands.
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