With lots of twists and turns, the University of Bristol Head Race spans the stretch of the River Avon between Bath and Saltford, with the treacherous corner at “Danger Bridge” marking roughly two-thirds of the course, where many talented crews have had their races scuppered by a bad line taking them too close to the buttress.
Many Intermediate crews will have athletes fresh from their novice years stepping up to the seniors for the first time and it will be interesting to see what they have left in the legs for the final 1km of the race, a perfectly straight line to the finish, giving crews plenty of opportunity to throw down every last watt.
Men’s Intermediate Eights
A staple event at the Head with many mid-tier and smaller clubs from the region in attendance to try their hand against their peers away from the Tideway or Holmepierrepont.
Boasting a big entry this year, Southampton have two eights racing in this event, as are Warwick and home water crews from Bristol and Monkton Coombe School. Also entered are Swansea, Birmingham, Bath (as well as another entry from their alumni Meles), and Plymouth.
With half of this year’s Temple Eight, namely Tom Kuijlaars, Ben Samarji, Will Meakin and Ben Giles, Bristol are in a strong position to take this one, starting at the front of the pack with the aim of keeping with the Champ crews.
Neighbours Bath will be putting up a fight with a mix of returning students as well as freshers including Lewis Dunning who raced in the Princess Elizabeth at Henley Royal with his former school Bedford Modern.
Swansea are another one to watch, with this likely being their top men’s boat, having impressed in private training races recently with Bath to throw a hat into the ring as well.
With Southampton seeming to favour the Fours for this division, it is less likely we will see them make an impact here but with such depth, strength could be coming hand in hand.
Prediction: Bristol to take another win at their home event, with Bath, Warwick and Swansea no far behind.
Women’s Intermediate Eights
Entries into the double figures are providing plenty of competition for what are going to be many top women’s boats. As with the men’s eights, there are two crews from Southampton as well as two from Birmingham, Bristol and Warwick. Bath and Swansea complete the draw.
Southampton – most of the two crews that won and 3rd in Academic 4s at 4s Head
A number of the Swansea crew are stepping up to the seniors at this event, having won the C final of Beginner Eights at BUCS earlier this year. Similar promotions are happening with Warwick, as a number of their novices from last year’s intake racing in their two eights.
Southampton look strong in this event, with their A crew full of athletes from their two crews that won and came third in Academic Coxed Fours at Fours Head this year – including Anna Thornley, Amy Miller, Amelia Marriott, Phoebe Baker and Amanda Gilbert.
Prediction: Having delivered the goods at Fours Head, this is no doubt that Southampton are the frontrunners but expect Bristol and Birmingham to feature.
Men’s Intermediate Quads
An event building in popularity each year, seven crews are entered in the Inter Quads, chasing down their peers racing in Champ with the aim of limiting the gap.
De Montford could feature well in this event with two members of their quad – Alex Grosvenor and Stuart Bruton – having placed fourth in Beginner Quads at BUCS Regatta this year. This being their top men’s quad, it would be great to see them pushing for the win.
UWE previously a heavy hitter at the Head having won plenty of Champ and Inter events over the years but having missed all of last season due to the Covid pandemic and only starting back up this autumn will have set them back. That being said, if social media is anything to go by, this could potentially be a top boat as it looks pretty handy.
Prediction: If the stars align, this could be UWE’s event, but otherwise Cardiff, Bristol and De Montford will be stepping forward.
Women’s Intermediate Quads
Normally a staple of the Hartpury squad, with so many women’s quad wins to their name at national levels, it is a surprise not to see them going for the Champ event. That being said, it is still likely to be a competent crew, which over a 3.4km course, could see them through.
This event could also bring back the nostalgia of past Head Races with the local triad of Bristol, Bath and UWE all competing and only one crew from Birmingham separating them in the draw. The heat of the rivalry could be the extra fire in the engine that takes one of them towards a medal. But with three entries from Cardiff, and no eights to eat up their squad, this could suggest they have stacked the quads.
Prediction: On numbers alone, this could be one for Cardiff, but with Bristol sporting a reinvigorated women’s squad this year and with strength in depth across the sculling disciplines, the home advantage might just be with them.
Men’s Intermediate Coxed Fours
A total of six crews are set to contest the event, with two from Southampton and one apiece from Bristol, Cardiff, Swansea and UWE.
The only club to have shown their hand at a major event thus far this season is Southampton with a good showing at Fours Head, placing fourth and fifth in Academic Coxed Fours.
The varsity clash from across the Severn could make things interesting with Swansea and Cardiff only two crews apart and could add further fire to deliver a solid performance.
UWE are still rebuilding following a full season of away from rowing following the Covid pandemic so, while it is unclear how they are likely to fare, with them once again being on the water of old rivals Bristol, this could hopefully be the first step in their return to form.
Prediction: It is the kind of event where anyone could take the W but the odds are with Southampton following their results on the Tideway. Given they have no eights racing and therefore this is likely to be their top crews, consider Cardiff and UWE ones to watch also.
Women’s Intermediate Coxed Fours
A rare event on the draw with neither of the home University clubs racing will see seven crews from six clubs taking to the water – Bournemouth, Cardiff, Plymouth, Southampton, Swansea and Warwick.
With Swansea, Southampton and Warwick all fielding Inter Eights and Cardiff heavily invested in the Inter Quads, this could be one where Bournemouth or Plymouth could make some ground. Southampton’s ongoing success with their women’s squad means they aren’t one to dismiss.
On a side note, one of the Plymouth crews features JRN’s very own Roesie Percy, stepping out from behind the camera for the division to throw herself back into racing. We wish her luck!
Prediction: Plymouth or Bournemouth simply because their squad isn’t spread too thin. Otherwise Southampton.
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