The big time is upon us. After cancellation upon cancellation, the weather Gods finally look to be smiling on the rowing community. After the Women’s Head of the River got away relatively cleanly – albeit whilst losing a portion of the field to fast flow – the Schools’ Head of the River sits next on the docket. With a week of semi-reasonable weather predicted in the capital – as estimate temperatures reach 17 degrees on Sunday 17th – we’re hoping for a smooth race, fast conditions and plenty of emerging drama to set the scene for another epic summer of racing.
The first eights are a category dedicated to the smaller, less-resourced, programmes, who still have ambition to punch hard at welterweight but cannot go round-for-round against the real heavy hitters in the championship cohort. With holders Bedford School opting to pitch into the latter classification, this leaves the field wide open for interpretation.
Canford School
Last year’s bronze medalists, Canford are perennial contenders in this category. With so little to go off in terms of results this season, it’s hard to really estimate how fast Canford are moving. A real benefit they do have is a front-foot on the rest of the pack – they’re leading the group out and will be tasked with hunting down the back of the championship roster.
Emanuel School
This group had a fantastic year in 2023, finishing fifth at the Schools’ Head of the River in this category before going on to qualify for Henley Royal Regatta in the summer. Having lost star oarsman Isaac Thurnham, the squad are in the process of re-building and a 20th-place finish at Quintin Head in J18 eights will hardly have been cause for celebration. The group improved on their January showing with an 11th place at Hammersmith Head in the same category but crucially they were the fastest boat from their Schools’ Head draw at Hammersmith.
Monkton Combe School
A boat that edged out Emanuel at Quintin, finishing 19th in the junior category, Monkton Combe do not typically feature at the business end of proceedings. Located near Bath, one of the school’s most famous rowing-related exports is YouTuber Cam Buchan, whose attempts at Olympic team qualification have been painstakingly documented on his channel whilst racing under the colours of MC. Although the Scotsman never actually rowed or coached at the school, these boys will have to channel some of his ‘Yam squad’ spirit – along with the heritage of greats including Alex Partridge, Rowley Douglas and Steve Williams – if they’re to take on the best of the field next week. This boat also finished fourth in junior eights at the Wycliffe Big Head in early February.
Kew House School Boat Club
A crew that has narrowly trailed Emanuel all season – finishing a place and three seconds behind them at Hammersmith after ending up a place and seven seconds back on them at Quintin – Kew House are a relatively new entry to the junior rowing scene. Officially opened in September 2018, they’re slowly building up a repertoire of domestic results and trying their hand at a variety of boat classes in both open and women’s categories.
Methodist College Belfast Rowing Club
We simply love an ‘international’ entry, even if they’re from our dear neighbours across the Irish sea. Methodist College Belfast finished eighth in this category last year, in what I would objectively describe as a stronger field. In 2024, they’ll be wanting to break into the top five and perhaps push on for a medal. With a set of solid winter results behind them – including promising performances at the QUB Winter Head and The Queen’s HORR – they’ll be an interesting contender come Wednesday.
Claires Court School
There is no doubting that Claires Court are first and foremost a sculling club. They have enjoyed monumental success in that boat class over the past decade, including two historic wins at Henley Royal Regatta in both the Fawley and Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cups, but their pitch into the eight indicates improving depth. This crew were three seconds behind Kew House at Hammersmith Head and will be looking to push on and squeeze that margin.
Kingston Grammar School
As I slowly scanned the draw – cross-referencing the names against recent results – I realised I almost committed the oldest of JRN sins; overlooking a crew because they did not race in the conventional category. KGS were indeed present at Quintin and came out as the fastest crew from this group, winning the open development eight category but also sneaking their noses in front of the aforementioned Monkton Combe. Another sculling stronghold, will 2024 see KGS have a crack at the first eights title? To win it, they’ll need to work their way through an armada of eights as they start 17 boats off the front.
Prediction
A tricky one to call, given there has been so little racing. I can see Canford, Monkton, KGS and the Irish contingent – who always perform well on the choppy Tideway waters – putting in strong performances.
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