The Schools’ Head of the River is the culmination of an entire winter’s hard work – the pinnacle of junior head racing is now only a few days away. The third eight category is an opportunity for those who may not have as much experience to shine, showing the rich dividends of this extraordinary sporting passion we all know and love. Let’s look at some of the most competitive crews in this year’s Junior 18 third eights category.
Radley College Boat Club
Coming off a strong performance at Kingston Head, where they decisively beat Hampton, the Radley College Boat Club third eight are looking to see how much speed they can find on the Tideway. They finished a mere two seconds behind their second eight at Quintin Head, and despite a slightly less favourable row at Hammersmith Head, I am confident they will deliver a strong performance.
Eton College Boat Club
Defending their silver medal from last year, the Eton College Boat Club third eight may not have had so much racing experience this season, having been absent from both Hammersmith and Quintin Heads. They will undoubtedly be missing the Tideway experience of some of the other crews, but their size and raw strength could be enough to override their lack of knowledge. I am sure they will be as hungry and aware of the race plan as anyone else, but I believe their lack of racing this season could make a win harder.
Hampton School Boat Club
Known for their incredible squad depth and numbers (sending nearly 20 rowers to the Early ID trials in November), there is no doubt that these young men from Hampton will perform well, no matter the conditions. Although their first eight were able to claim a gold medal in the junior eight category at Hammersmith Head, their third eight have not seen much of the Tideway this year. Only time will tell how much this will affect them come next Tuesday.
Westminster School Boat Club
Westminster School Boat Club’s third eight may be a dark horse in this race. The school traditionally lacks the squad depth to put out more than two eights, but this year, a third eight bears testament to the unity, willingness, and drive that the club has shown recently. As Tideway locals, their knowledge of the course should be second to none, and I predict being able to pace themselves well will play significantly to their advantage. Compared to other crews who may be less familiar with the milestones along this stretch of the River Thames, this may give them the upper hand.
Prediction
I’d pick Radley College BC as the favourite for this event, influenced by their convincing performance at Kingston Head. I also expect Hampton School BC and Eton College BC (in either order) to deliver impressive, podium-placing performances. That said, as in the other categories, the outcome is subject to factors far beyond any person’s control, knowledge, or ability. The Tideway’s weather and winds can oftentimes be merciless, and ultimately, the crew best able to stay composed and make the most of their conditions will come out on top.
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