The event was cancelled after this preview was completed.
Henley Fours and Eights Head is a staple of the British Head Season calendar. Racing takes place over a 3000m course between just upstream of Hambledon Lock and the Henley Royal finish line, covering one of the most iconic stretches of river in the UK. It attracts many big-name clubs from the south and midlands of England, making it one of the most competitive non-tideway heads. At the time of writing the river is too high to race due to recent rainfall but hopefully, the floods will abate over this week so we can see some great racing. The open coxless fours poses to be a great battle between top rowing clubs, universities and schools alike.
Upper Thames RC
Racing on their home stretch of river, Upper Thames will come into this event as strong favourites. With so much racing being cancelled over this winter, it is hard to get a form guide for this crew, but given this is a coxless event, knowledge of the course will come in very handy. Upper Thames have had some strong results in recent seasons, making the semi-finals of the Wyfold Challenge cup at Henley Royal, and a top 25 finish at HORR. They set off first in this event and will be strong contenders for the win.
Radley College BC
This coxless 4 seems to be one-half of their eight that is racing in division 1 this weekend. Radley College have had some very strong crews over the years, so expect this quartet to be quick. They will want to push on after Quintin Head a couple of weeks ago, where they finished the 4th fastest schoolboy 8, behind St Paul’s, Bedford and Shiplake. With the main focus of the next six weeks being Schools Head of the River, I am sure they will be gunning for a quick time.
Globe RC
Based in Greenwich, Globe RC tend to compete in both sculling and sweep categories, and have had some impressive results this 24/25 rowing season. Multiple wins at Docklands Head before christmas should set them up well going into the remainder of the head season. They have two coxless fours entered here, and will look to place well in the rankings this weekend.
University of East Anglia BC (UEA)
Travelling a long way from Norwich, the University of East Anglia BC come to Henley to get some much-needed race preparations in before BUCS Head in two weeks. They are another club to have two fours entered, one of which attained an impressive second place at Bedford Fours and Eights Head last weekend. Earlier in the season the men’s squad swept up at Start Club Head, winning both fours events and the band 1 eights. It looks like their training is paying dividends, and expect to see both fours challenging for the win.
Evesham RC
Located on the River Avon, to the southwest of Worcester, Evesham RC are another crew embarking on the journey to Henley to get some quality racing in before the bigger head races in March. This coxless four could be half of the eight that came second in band 2 eights at Worcester Head last weekend. They may struggle against some top-quality opposition in this event, but I am sure they will finish with a competitive time and most importantly get that much-needed racing experience in.
Prediction
I think Radley College BC will provide a quality of their own leaving them unreachable for the other crews, and securing victory. The remainder of the podium will place will be a closer affair, but I think Upper Thames RC will just pip UEA BC to second place although any strong performance on the day could be enough for any of these clubs to take it.
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