With the Schools’ Head of the River being the biggest head race on the calendar for Junior crews, the Women’s First Eights have 13 entries. Coming down the infamous Tideway course, each crew will want to put their winter training to the test and see just what they can achieve.
Kingston Grammar School Boat Club
A boat club that has recently been on the rise, Kingston Grammar School Boat Club is definitely one to watch out for on Tuesday. Given their second place in this event last year, only beaten by Godolphin and Latymer School Boat Club who are notably absent, Kingston Grammar School Boat Club are looking good to come first place this year. After coming 13th at Women’s Head of the River Race and 11th at Quintin Head in January, given the absence of many of the crews who had beaten them in this category, I predict Kingston Grammar School Boat Club to be fighting for the top spot.
Sir William Perkin’s School Boat Club
Expect a strong performance from the girls at Sir William Perkin’s School Boat Club on Tuesday. With their top girls going in a quad, their eight is effectively a ‘B’ crew, which shows incredible depth within the squad. This crew came third at Kingston Head of the River Race a few weekends ago after coming 11th at Women’s Head of the River Race earlier on in March. After a fifth-place finish at this event last year, the girls from Sir William Perkin’s School Boat Club will be looking to build upon this, and I predict they will finish with a podium result on Tuesday.
Emanuel School Boat Club
With the Schools’ Head of the River being on their home stretch, Emanuel School Boat Club will want to make their mark with a good result. After coming 23rd at Women’s Head of the River Race, Emanuel School Boat Club will want to improve on this result. At last year’s event, Emanuel School Boat Club came sixth and will want to use their Tideway advantage to regain a similar position this year.
Putney High School Boat Club
Given their pedigree in this event with a third place finish last year, Putney High School Boat Club are one of the crews to beat. Coming 14th at the Women’s Head of the River Race, closely behind their rivals Kingston Grammar School Boat Club, they will want to close the sevon-second gap between them to take the win.
Wimbledon High School
A boat club whose fortunes have been on the rise, Wimbledon High have dropped to compete at first eight level in the hope of securing a coveted podium placement. Under the stewardship of Gillian Lindsay – who now runs GL Camps – the programme became exceptionally competitive at a national level but has slowed a little in the last couple of years. The challenge for the incumbent leadership is to re-energise what is undoubtedly a high-potential group.
Prediction
I predict the win to be close between Kingston Grammar School Boat Club and Putney High School Boat Club with other crews not far behind.
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