The Fours Head of the River 2023 – Women’s Championship Quad Preview

We have a small but strong pack of athletes hitting the water in the Women’s Championship Quad category. Unlike last year, where the women’s championship quads category was dominated by members of the GB squad, this year we will likely see some close and exciting results as a result of their absence.

Tideway Scullers School

Leading the pack, we have the Tideway Scullers School. This boat contains a very strong rowing pedigree with two members of the 2023 Diamond Jubilee winning quad, including Metcalf who also raced for the Junior England team at Home International this summer. Possibly most notable, is Peake, an under-19 Junior Worlds Gold medalist. This crew is potentially the youngest in this category but is bursting at the seams with rowing experience and achievement, and is likely to be one of the most decorated crews on the water.

Bath University

Being one of the only British Rowing Performance Development Academies in the country, many of the athletes in this boat are likely products of Dan Harris’ rebound programme. Half of this crew already visited the tideway for pairs head, placing 4^th in the Championship Women’s double category (beating a TSS double from the above-mentioned crew). This crew contains multiple notable rowers, including Court who had an extremely successful season last year, winning two BUCS golds, racing home International Regatta, and had a respectable Henley Royal campaign with partner and new Thames RC rower Hayden. I am sure these two will be happy to see each other on the water again, even if they are racing against each other.

Exeter University

This Exeter University crew again contains more than its fair share of international rowing experience. Thomassen is one, with previous success at the Coupe de la Jeunesse in 2022 in the Eight. Isabel Punchard also represented her country in the European Beach Sprints Championships in the Under-19 mixed double.

Nottingham University

Nottingham University offers us, rowers and spectators alike, a boat riddled with more international representation. Whether they have a successful Fours Head, half the crew will be going home to their European University Championship silver medal, and one to her home international gold. Two of the members of this quad made a round at Henley Royal Regatta in the Island Challenge Cup this summer, being knocked out by Penn State, and they all had various good results at BUCS regatta.

Prediction

Ultimately, I put a lot of trust in the start order with this category. There should be a proper battle for the top spot between the Tideway Scullers School and Bath University, both young crews with rowing maturity. I am tempted to say that Tideway will have the advantage of familiar waters, but it would not be wise to make any monetary bets at this time. Following that, Exeter and Nottingham will have to battle it out for that bronze position. Whatever the result, this category will surely determine the best of the best in this country, outside of the GB squad.

About The Author

Emma Graham

See author's posts