Schools Head of the River Race is run along the championship 4.5-mile course on the tideway every year. This race also starts to round up head season and signals the start of a hopefully sunny regatta season in April. With a number of top-class entries, an intense day of racing is definite.
Headington School
Headington have so far this season proven themselves to be one of the front runners in the sweep category for J15 dominating all events they have attended. They took home the gold at Henley Fours and Eights Head, leading the field with a ten-second margin. This crew has gone above and beyond my expectations this year and I expect them to complete a well-executed race to bring home the win.
Surbiton High School
A strong contender for the championship, placing just below Headington at National Schools last year, Surbiton will be in it to win it on Friday. Claiming the win at Quintin Head on the tideway, these girls have made themselves known as a threat in the WJ15 category.
Wimbledon High School
This crew has constantly been in the shadow of the victorious Surbiton crew, within just a couple of seconds at multiple events this season. Wimbledon are the underdogs of this pairing, but if anything creeping up on this Surbiton crew with being two seconds off at Quintin and just one second off at Hampton Head. If these girls can continue this pattern, an overthrow of Surbiton could be witnessed at this event.
Henley Rowing Cub
Henley are perhaps the most renowned junior club for rowing, so it is no surprise to see them trying to top this head of the river. Yet to bring home win in the eight, this eight will be hungry for medals and I expect them to come out fighting to reclaim the top spot.
Lady Eleanor Holles School
Following close behind Wimbledon at Hampton, this crew have proved to be a strong contender in this field. Some strong entries in the quads at Hampton also suggest a large squad size with maybe some varying crew arrangements.
Some other notable crews racing are: Latymer Upper School, Nottingham and Union, Tideway Scullers School and St William Perkin’s School.
Prediction
With a strong and tight field, timing will be tight and could go many ways however I believe that Headington will take the gold. The crew had been constantly ahead and I can’t see that coming to and end here. For the underdog, I predict silver could go to Wimbledon High School if they give it their absolute 100% effort with Surbiton just milliseconds behind. For the first time this season, I predict Henley could come home empty handed, close to third but having to settle for fourth.
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