With only two crews entered into the WJ16 eights, I expect to see some close racing as we edge into the pinnacle of head season. It will be exciting to see how the ‘locals’ do against a Welsh crew from a bit further afield. But will their familiarity help them gain that top spot, or will the underdogs strike back?
Henley Rowing Club
Clearly a crew to keep an eye on, Henley Rowing Club is going from strength to strength, with a notable performance being at the National Schools’ Regatta, where they placed first by almost eight seconds over Surbiton High School Boat Club. However, the question of how they fare over the longer, rougher waters of the Tideway does arise. Having been spotted at Hammersmith Head looking pretty fast, it might have been a surprise all around that they didn’t actually take the win. To add insult to injury, the Surbiton High School BC crew which took the win at Hammersmith is the same crew which Henley RC convincingly beat at the National Schools’ Regatta.
Haberdashers Monmouth School Rowing Club
Haberdashers Monmouth School Rowing Club is another very experienced crew with much success, both regionally and nationally. Their WJ15 quad just missed out on a medal by the smallest of margins at the National Schools’ Regatta. Their second quad also placed exceptionally well in the C-final, and assuming these crews make up the eight this weekend, it’s sure to be a fast boat. As an eight, they have also taken the win at many regional events, showing their dominance.
Prediction
Overall, I think that Henley RC might take the lead at Reading University Head, given their outstanding performances over both the head season and last year. On top of that, they only lost Hammersmith Head by 0.1 seconds, meaning they will certainly be out for revenge, which is a huge motivation that Haberdashers Monmouth School RC won’t have.
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