Wallingford fours and eights Head is raced over a 4,000m stretch of the River Thames in Oxford and is one of the most popular pre-Christmas head races of the year. It is infamous for being a technically challenging course with more narrow stretches and s-bends than most crews and coxes will be accustomed to – so good steering becomes essential for a quick time.
With higher-than-average temperatures and light winds expected this Sunday, coupled with the recent rains that have caused parts of the Upper Thames to become higher and faster than usual, the favourable conditions will certainly play a factor in helping calm the nerves of any young and novice crews.
Following a series of small boat head races earlier on in the school term, Wallingford is one of the first opportunities for schools to start flexing their muscles in eights. However, with the highlights of the head season (mainly School’s Head) all happening after the New Year, schools might not want to give away too much at such an early part of the season and as a result, might be entering mixed eights.
Because of this, predicting the outcome might not be as easy as looking at past form in the category. Of course, you have J16’s from St Pauls, Radley, Abingdon, St Georges, Eton and Bedford who, in that order, did well at the J15 level at National Schools’ Regatta in the summer. However, with no J16 crews showing at the recent Fours Head and no definitive data from either Kingston Small Boats or Teddington Head, it is very hard to say where any of the crews competing are at, at this stage of the season. However, one thing is for sure, with the young crews having everything to prove, they will obviously want to lay down a marker for the coming year.
Predictions
To put it down to it, either one of the St Paul’s crews racing has to be favourite not only because of their results last academic year and the fact that they will have clear water for the race, going off first and third behind the U23 8+ category. But also because the whole club must still be riding high after their spectacular Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup win at Henley in July. The remaining places up for grabs will probably be filled by the likes of Radley, Abingdon, Eton and Bedford. But with the fast conditions, challenging course and the fact that this is new territory for all rowers, upsets are bound to occur, and disaster could happen to any one of the eighteen crews entered.
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