Vesta Scullers Head 2023 – Club Women’s Singles Preview

Back for another year is Vesta Scullers Head, being held on Saturday 23^rd September and starting at 10 am. The course runs from Chiswick Bridge to Putney Pier, along a 6.8km stretch of The Thames. This year 15 scullers from 11 clubs will be battling it out in the women’s club singles category to complete the race and take home the win.

Nottingham Rowing Club

After racing in a quad last year at Henley Women’s Regatta, Poppy Baker has been competing in a single this summer. Racing at BUCS Regatta and then The Metropolitan Regatta, where she finished 11^th on the Saturday. Following this, Baker competed for The Bernard Churcher Trophy for Aspirational Single Sculls at Henley Women’s Regatta. She came 9^th in the Time Trial and won her first round of side-by-side racing but was knocked out in the second round. This summer of strong results suggests she is one to watch this weekend as she looks to further prove her sculling talent.

City of Oxford Rowing Club

The City of Oxford Rowing Club are sending two athletes to Vesta Scullers Head this year, both of whom raced at Henley Women’s Regatta in singles. Harriet Haysom competed in The Bernard Churcher Trophy for Aspirational Single Sculls and finished 15^th in the Time Trial to qualify yet was knocked out in the first round. Similarly, Jo Heymann raced for The Fiona Dennis Trophy for Aspirational Lightweight Single Sculls, finishing 14^th in the Time Trial. Unfortunately, she was also knocked out in the first round of side-by-side racing after qualifying. However, after both having gained valuable racing experience in a single since, this will serve them well this weekend.

Globe Rowing Club

Racing for Globe Rowing Club this year is Naomi Doye and Imogen Pringle, who both competed at The Metropolitan Regatta in the women’s quadruple sculls category. On the Saturday they finished 15^th and on the Sunday they won the B final with a 9th-place finish. Shortly after, at Henley Women’s Regatta, their Globe quad raced in The Chairman’s Trophy for Aspirational Quadruple Sculls and finished 9th in the Time Trial. Resulting in a qualification spot, however, they were knocked out in the 1^st round. After finishing a strong season of racing together, it will be interesting to watch what each of these ladies can do in a single competing against each other.

London Rowing Club

Charlotte Bawn is racing for London Rowing Club after spending her summer competing at The Metropolitan Regatta in a quad on both the Saturday and Sunday, coming 19^th and 11^th respectively. And at Henley Women’s Regatta she competed for The Chairman’s Trophy for Aspirational Quadruple Sculls where she qualified coming 14^th in the Time Trial but was knocked out in the first round. This sculling experience should prove to be useful, however, it is yet to be seen how smoothly the transition from a crew boat to a single will be.

University of Birmingham Boat Club

So far this year Helen Gilbody has raced in a single on the Saturday of The Metropolitan Regatta, finishing 37^th and 13^th in the lightweight category. Following this, she competed at Henley Women’s Regatta for The Fiona Dennis Trophy for Aspirational Lightweight Single Sculls, and finished 20^th in the Time Trial, unfortunately missing out on a qualification spot. The one thing setting Gilbody apart from the rest of the competition is her experience with this very event. At the 2022 Vesta Scullers Head, she finished 362^nd overall, 33^rd in the Senior Women’s Single Sculls event, and 13^th in the lightweight category, and will be attempting to improve on that position this year.

City of Sheffield Rowing Club

Competing for City of Sheffield Rowing Club is Cat Webb who raced for The Bernard Churcher Trophy for Aspirational Single Sculls and finished 21^st in the Time Trial, unfortunately missing out on qualification. After a summer of competing at regional events including Peterborough Summer Regatta, Webb will be looking to add to her racing experience this weekend.

Lea Rowing Club

Racing for Lea Rowing Club is Jamila Sinclair who competed for The Copas Cup for Aspirational Club Eights at Henley Women’s Regatta, where she finished 12^th and qualified. However, she was then unfortunately knocked out in the first round of racing. Following this, it will be interesting to see how she gets on switching to from sweep in a field of athletes who have been predominantly racing in sculling boats in the run up to Henley.

Putney Town Rowing Club

Amy Binnon will be familiar with the Thames due to rowing at Putney Town Rowing Club. Over summer she has been raced at Henley Women’s Regatta in The Copas Cup for Aspirational Club Eights, where they finished 17^th and just missed out on qualifying. Following this, she competed at Henley Royal Regatta for The Wargrave Challenge Cup for Women’s Club Eights finished 13^th in the Time Trial, again missing out on qualifying. After training and racing in a sweep boat over summer, Binnon will be looking to see what she can do now competing in the single sculls category.

Predictions

There are a few scullers in this race who have not competed at the bigger summer races this year, therefore their talent remains unknown and could potentially leave room for some surprise results. However, due to proven sculling experience, I believe the fight for the top spot will be between Nottingham and City of Oxford, closely followed by Globe and London.

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