Perhaps I don’t speak for every rower in the UK, but for me, the Schools’ Head of the River is one of the season’s best events. Rowing around 6.8km (4.2 miles) on one of the country’s most varied and unforgiving stretches of river, alongside some of the best junior crews, can make for some pretty unforgettable racing.
The open junior 18 quads event is consistently among the most hotly-contested, and this year will be no exception, with no less than 35 crews set to send it down the Tideway, hoping to end the head season on a high and enter regatta season with a firm foundation.
Marlow Rowing Club
They’ve finished second for the past two years, but maybe Marlow will finally take the top spot at Schools’ Head of the River 2025. A relatively successful season so far has seen them finish in fifth at Hammersmith Head against tough competition, and, if we look back to the summer, a Marlow quad finished second in The Fawley Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. While it’s been a season of limited water time and racing for everyone, it’s fair to expect a typically strong performance from Marlow next week.
The Windsor Boys’ School
It’s nigh-on impossible to preview a junior men’s quads events nowadays and not mention Windsor Boys’. They finished in fourth place at the Schools’ Head of the River in 2024, and 17th in 2023, but have won The Fawley Challenge Cup, National Schools’ Regatta and Head of the Charles twice each in that time, reminding us that, while they might not have won this event since 2022, it doesn’t mean they won’t this year. Club captain and third-fastest sculler in the country, Joe Wellington, returns to the crew after winning The Fawley Challenge Cup in 2024, and will be ably backed up by Isaac Thornton, who was fifth in the single and third in the double at the February U19 GBRT Trials. As ever, The Windsor Boys’ School will be a formidable opposition for all competitors on the Tideway this year.
Leander Club
Another club with a Schools’ Head ‘winner’ pennant in their trophy case, Leander will be trying to reclaim the title they won in 2023, after dropping down to fifth place last year. As with every year, the club’s junior programme has seen great success already this season, with a gold and bronze in the Junior 18 doubles at Pairs Head and a win for the quad at Henley Long Distance Sculls back in November. Will this success carry Leander through the Schools’ Head next Tuesday?
Tideway Scullers School
The Scullers are the returning champions this year, on top of being one of the home clubs, training on the Tideway year-round. The home-water advantage cannot be understated on the Thames, owing to its unpredictable and sometimes rather unpleasant nature, not to mention having that instinctive knowledge of where to find the fastest racing line. I’m expecting big things from Tideway Scullers School this year.
Molesey Boat Club
Winners of the junior quad category at Kingston Head – ahead of Kingston, Wallingford and Walton, to name a few – Molesey will arrive into Tuesday in good form. They were also second in junior quads at Hammersmith Head, seven seconds back on Windsor Boys, who everyone considers to be the fastest crew in the country. I think we could see a sprung surprise from the Black Death.
Hartpury University and College
Although we have not seen much of this crew in open competition, we have seen enough of their sculling prowess individually to know that this boat will be quick. Louis Sheasby was sixth in the single at the February U19 GBRT Trial, whilst Daniel Page was tenth, George Coates was 14th and Alex Repton was 17th. On paper, this crew is fearsome, with all four in the top 20 scullers in the country. The question is whether they can convert solo speed into quad sculling prowess.
Hinksey Sculling School
With one returner from last year’s Fawley Challenge Cup quad, Hinksey are the feel-good gift that keeps on giving. Their metoric rise to the top of the junior rowing pyramid has been one of the prevailing narratives following the COVID-19 pandemic and they’ll be looking to maintain that standard by placing in the top five next week.
Maidenhead Rowing Club
Another club whose talent is consistently applied from the basin of the Thames Valley, Maidenhead have never quite made the step on into medal contention since their winning run at the National Schools’ Regatta in 2018. This crew will likely feature Fraser Jones, who finished eighth in the single and fourth in the double at the February U19 GBRT Trial.
Prediction
It’ll come as no shock to me if any of Tideway Scullers School, Leander, Windsor Boys, Hartpury or Marlow RC win the Schools’ Head of the River. I’m going to put my money on the Windsor Boys, whose imperious form over lands and sea in the 24/25 season marks them out as favourites here.
About The Author
Discover more from JRN
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
