Before we can start to look forward to the regatta season, and the joys of summer (with exams), we must first finish head season. For many school crews, Schools Head of the River Race (SHORR) marks this finish, and for many rowers, the last head race they will ever race for their school. This year we have 16 entries in School/Junior Fours, and unlike last year, there is no clear victor, as we had with the Molesey four last year, setting a new course record.
There appears to be a strong entry from St Edwards School. Traditionally a Champ 8 school, Teddies have split into a four and a quad, with the four looking to be the top entry, after a dominant win at Hammersmith Head, beating their closest rivals, Dulwich, by 30 seconds, clearly trying to put their mark on the event.
As mentioned above, Dulwich also have a four entered, and like Teddies also have a quad, but are usually seen as a 1st eight school. This entry could reflect the poor result in 1st eights that they achieved at SHORR last year (10th). The tideway-based school has had some promising results, 2nd and both Hammersmith and Henley Fours and Eights Heads, so this should put them in a relatively strong position.
A slightly peculiar entry from Henley RC, who, it must be said, rarely dabble in the world of junior men’s sweep rowing. There has not been much evidence of this four racing, instead looking to race the quad (At Reading University Head there were 4 JM quads from Henley). The top athletes seem to be in the two quads, so not much can be expected from this boat.
London Youth Rowing Tradesmen look to have a strong entry this year. Thames Tradesmen have gone quite recently – possibly due to the foreclosure of their boathouse – but with the help of London Youth Rowing, they are still turning out crews. After winning Band 1 4s at Bedford head, this crew looks to have a strong chance.
The crews entered seems to be dominated by southern crews, bar three, St Peter’s School, York, George Heriots, and Aberdeen Schools Rowing association. The former has entered a 1st eight and school four into the head, with this four understood to be the top boat. After a disappointing result on home water – losing out in band 2 fours to City of Sunderland RC – they will hoping to pick up speed in the two weeks leading up to this. Heriots, have not shown themselves recently, and will be looking to push on from their 8th last year. Aberdeen, for J18 men, have only this four entered, and this implies that this should be a strong entry. After sending two athletes to junior worlds last year in the pair, with Beeson returning for another year at ASRA, this should be a fast crew.
Both Hampton School and Radley College have Championship eights, second eights and school fours entered. For Hampton, the four is their second crew, and there is some pedigree with this, however, at Hammersmith Head, they could only muster an eighth place finish, a lower finish than we would expect from Hampton school, beating only two American School in London Crews, both of whom appear to be J16 fours. For Radley, I suspect this is their third tier boat, prioritising both the first and second eights, thus implying that this boat will be far from the quickest boat Radley can produce.
Local school, Emanuel, have two boats entered here, a top quad, and then a secondary four. The four managed a respectable 5th place at Hammersmith head, showing how a home advantage can play to your advantage, and will be hoping they can use this on Friday afternoon.
Like St Peter’s, Reading Blue Coat have entered both a 1st eight, and a school four. Unlike St Peter’s, however, this four looks like it could be carrying some speed, after coming third at Hammersmith head, and the eight coming sixth in school eights. I suspect at Hammersmith that the four was the top boat, and this should have continued, however, either way they will be a strong contender on Friday.
Weybridge Rowing Club do not often frequent tideway, but this year they bring two boats involving junior men to the tideway, a school four, and a mixed quad. The top boat is the four, and after winning J18 4s at Upper Thames head back in October, they will be hoping more speed will have been found, and they can challenge for a top five finish on Friday.
This leaves us with only the clubs which have entered solely a J18 4+: Oratory, King Edward VI School, King’s Canterbury, and King’s School Worcester. Out of these, King’s Canterbury has the most pedigree. After qualifying numerous eights for the PE at Henley Royal over the years, so should be a strong contender. An Oratory school/cardinals boat came 4th in inter 4-‘s at fours head, but rumour is that there is only one schoolboy in that crew, thus making this entry a bit of an unknown quantity. King Edward VI’s have not been on show recently, so who knows how they will fare, as I must confess I know little about them. Equally Kings School Worcester have not been on show, so with little information I don’t wish to comment on their performance, however should be a strong crew as this is their only entry at this level.
With crews vying to see where they stand before the summer season, especially in this category where at National Schools Regatta has been restricted to an A final only, this event should be hotly competed, especially with some eights set to split after this event. However, there will be crews very tight around the top end, namely, St Edwards, Dulwich, Blue Coat, Aberdeen, and Emanuel, but on the day I feel like Teddies will take the win, with Aberdeen finding a second place whilst Dulwich use their Tideway experience to secure the bronze medal.
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