With Schools’ Head of the River (SHORR) rounding off this year’s severely interrupted head season, crews will be looking to show off their skill and talent in head racing in the least time before regatta season. This year, the girl’s second eights category has some incredibly strong contenders, so I’m excited to see who will reign champion over the gruelling Tideway stretch.
Headington School Oxford Boat Club
With their first eight having won the The Prince Philip Challenge Trophy at Henley Royal Regatta in 2024, this club certainly has the training programme they need to see further success into this season. With their second eight coming second in last year’s race, Headington School Oxford Boat Club will have their eye on beating the other crews to the finish line this year. Their impressive top-70 finish at Women’s Head of the River Race (beating Surbiton High School Boat Club’s first eight), and ninth-place finish at Quintin Head, puts them in a strong position to perform well next week.
Shiplake College Boat Club
Recently, Shiplake College Boat Club has been going from strength to strength in the last few seasons. With a 24th place finish at Women’s Head of the River Race in the School/Junior category and 14th at Quintin Head, they have some strong signs of the strength needed to boost them up to the higher spots within this category, which I am sure the girls in this crew will be more than ready to claim.
Surbiton High School Boat Club
Leaving last year’s race with a fifth place in this category means that Surbiton High School Boat Club has good strengths racing on the Tideway, and this may mean that this year they can achieve even more. With a 27th place at Women’s Head of the River Race (School/Junior) and a recent fifth at Kingston Head, these girls will be more than raring to go to prove to their competitors that they have what it takes.
Wallingford Boat Club
Wallingford Boat Club has undoubtedly also had a very successful season so far. Their 20th place finish at Women’s Head of the River Race, finishing only 14 places behind their first boat, acts as a testimony to the effectiveness of their training regime, which should benefit them next week – as long as they can cope with the unpredictable nature of the Tideway.
Notable Mentions
We cannot forget to mention Tideway Scullers School. Having the obvious benefit of racing on home turf, will these girls be able to prove themselves against the visiting competition? I would also not want to exclude Godolphin and Latymer School Boat Club, who had come a strong 28th at Women’s Head of the River Race – only one place behind competitors Surbiton High School Boat Club – so the tension next week will be high to see who comes out on top.
Prediction
I anticipate that Headington School will come out on top next week, but I wouldn’t be sure that no surprises will occur. Wallingford Rowing Club have very strong evidence of the power of their crew from recent racing at Women’s Head of the River Race. Similarly, Shiplake College Boat Club have superb proof that their training is paying off, so next week may be when they unleash their strength. However, the Tideway always comes with many surprises, so only time will tell who will come out champion.
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