The annual Remenham Challenge is a head of the river race organised by the club for crews from all seven founding clubs. The first Remenham Challenge took place in 2000 in Kingston. The race now takes place (extreme weather permitting) on the ‘Tideway’ section of the Thames River, racing from the Chiswick Steps to the Vesta RC flag pole.
After the disappointment of yet another head race lost to the weather, it looks a lot more promising that Remenham will go ahead this weekend. For many crews this will now be their first race of the season, so it will be exciting to see them put a marker down against various rivals.
Thames
Like the men, an armada of eights have been entered here, making up all bar one of the crews in the championship category, alongside two club boats. They have kept their entries fairly mysterious, with the names on the draw associated with various key women from the club’s history. However Thames women’s consistent dominance over the last few years is far from a secret, and it would be a big surprise if their top boat does not take the win here.
London
London’s women’s squad have been on the rise over the last few years, culminating in being finalists in The Wargrave Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta and the Copas Cup at Henley Women’s Regatta. This growth looks to continue, fielding the only championship competitors to Thames this weekend, as well as three club eights. They will be looking to challenge the Thames dominance the season further, and they will definitely be battling, especially for the Club Eight win this weekend.
Vesta
Vesta, whilst maybe lacking some of the more recent successes of their Embankment neighbours, are still proving they are not to be underestimated, narrowly missing out on the Copas Cup final by half a length at Henley Women’s Regatta in the summer. They have three eights entered this weekend and will want to see if they can begin to close that gap on all their local rivals.
Molesey
Whilst Molesey do not have the same depth of entries here, only fielding a singular club eight and a quad, they will undoubtedly be one to watch out for. The name on the start order for the quad is “Cessford”; Hope Cessford, a previous U23 world champion in the coxless four, raced in The Princess Grace Challenge Cup quad that made the weekend at Henley Royal Regatta this summer. Molesey also had three athletes in the top 11 at early ID GB trials, so there will likely be a wealth of talent in eight this weekend. It looks like the eight may be their second-ranked crew and racing club. They are unable to defend their win in championship eights from 2023, but I imagine they will want to be involved in the battle for the win in this category. However, Thames and London’s home water advantage may make it challenging for the crew in black and white.
Prediction
Championship Eights – Thames
Club Eights – It will be a fight too close to call between Thames and London.
Championship Quad – Molesey
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