When it was first rowed in the post-war year of 1946, the Schools’ Head of the River Race was a relatively small event with only a few local crews competing, since then, the tide has changed completely on this once insignificant race.
On Friday, 347 crews will line the banks of the Championship course, before embarking on their SHORR campaign down the Thames. Early forecasts predict blustery and potentially damp conditions that will add to the already difficult course that the coxes will have to steer. Despite this, however, the best of the best will be among that 347, and whilst we can’t see the future, we can certainly use the past to gauge it.
Westminster School:
Westminster has become a name synonymous with an international style training programme that allows them to “train hard and win easy”. The best example of this in recent times is the Westminster 4- that took the win at the GB vs France match in Paris last year – and it’s clear this dedication and technical and physical prowess has trickled down into the ranks of the J15 and J16s. Last year at National Schools’, the J15s swept to victory in the second eight, and missed the gold in the first eight by mere seconds to St. Pauls, having beaten three other top crews at Marlow earlier on in the year.
Perhaps then, it is this mixture of elation and frustration that has provided the fuel that has driven them on to achieve great things so far this season: a top place finish at both Quintin and Hammersmith Head dwarfs their strong second at Teddington Head – a smaller race, dense with high profile crews. The experience that the coaches at Westminster have translates into power and speed in boats of all categories, and at this crucial stage in their junior rowing careers, a win at Schools’ Head is one that would set them up for greatness at events such as Henley Royal, and potential GB selection over the next couple of years.
St. Pauls School:
Much has been said in the junior rowing sphere over recent days and weeks over the apparent brick wall that St. Pauls have hit with their School eight, especially with the majority of last year’s crew that obliterated the record in Princess Elizabeth at Henley having moved on to greater things, and unfortunately this is a trend we are seeing emulated in the J16 squad. Much like their older counterparts, the J16s have been bumped down in recent heads, only managing to gain a third-place finish at Quintin Head, and missing the podium completely at Hammersmith, sitting almost 20 seconds behind the winners.
This is all in stark contrast to this cohort’s achievements at National Schools’ last year, where they stole the gold from Westminster. If this set of J16s hope to be Thatcher’s next set of record-setting oarsmen, Schools’ Head is a race at which they must place well, else face a dramatic crew reshuffle heading into regatta season.
Shiplake College:
If St. Pauls have so far this season been the Blockbusters of rowing, then Shiplake has been the Netflix of Junior 16 Eights. At the end of last season the historically successful club found their J15 eight in the B-Final at National Schools’ – hardly a strong result – and with a no-show at Marlow, they would’ve struggled to brush it off as a fluke.
Since coming back from their summer holiday, this devoted group of rowers have turned a corner, as proven by their recent successes. At Quintin they rowed a strong race that places them in second, and at Hammersmith a third; bumping St. Pauls down on both occasions. The only sensible conclusion that we can, therefore, come to is that Shiplake will be up there with the likes of Westminster, battling it out down the Championship course for the coveted Schools’ Head medal.
Eton College:
Eton has a reputation for staying hidden away at Dorney, rarely fielding large numbers of crews at races; especially during the Head season, such as at Quintin Head where there was a distinct lack of any J16 in Eton blue. However, when they do send crews out, they usually come back with a solid result: such as their impressive win at Teddington, and second at Hammersmith so far this season.
The Eton crews were away on camp in Spain during January where they spent hours upon hours perfecting the application of power and the intricacies of technique. Despite the conditions on the Tideway typically being less glassy than Ourense, we can expect that the effort put in by crews and coaches at the turn of the year should pay dividends on Friday. However, with all clubs putting out their best crews in their best boats, it will be no easy task.
A note of caution…
Previewed above are just a third of the crews that will be racing on the Tideway on Friday, and the Tideway makes only one thing predictable – its unpredictability. Whilst we should expect the likes of Westminster to come away with a win, a floating log striking the boat, a change in current, or a last minute substitution can dissolve the bubble of serenity that a well-prepared crew creates in a matter of seconds.
It is this uncertain nature of the Championship Course that makes racing so exciting: one only needs to look as far as some of the recent dark vs light blue battles on the reverse course to see the impact that extraneous variables can have on a crew. The winner this Friday will not be the crew with the most power, the best technique, or the best cox, but the crew that can combine all these elements into that winning formula.
Good Luck all!
OneScull
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