Wallingford Head of the River 2018 – Women’s Junior Eights

All of the crews in the WJ18 8+ category will be challenged over this 4.8km course. The physical strengths of the athletes as well as the steering ability of the coxswain around the difficult S-bends will need to be combined to reach towards the top places. This will be a very exciting event to follow with Henley Rowing Club, Lady Eleanor Holles Boat Club, Latymer Upper School Boat Club, St Pauls Girls School Boat Club, Bedford modern School Boat Club, Great Marlow School Boat Club, Pangbourne College Boat Club, St Georges College Boat Club and St Pauls Boat Club.

Henley Rowing Club

Henley RC has one crew entered into this category. This year the Henley senior squad has some strong athletes moving up from lower age groups. The J16 squad had some good achievements over the past year with wins in the J16 8+ and J16 4x- at National Schools as well as the gold in the J16 4x- at Henley Women’s Regatta. These strengths should be developed through more racing and so it will be interesting to see their performance over this slightly longer course.

Lady Eleanor Holles Boat Club

This rowing club has two crews entered with both Michelle Crees (J17) and Sorcha Webb (J16) rowing in this event, under the stewardship of new Head Coach Antony Smith. This year’s senior squad has had some strong additions from last year’s J16 squad that ended on a great silver medal in the J16 8+ at National Schools Regatta last year. Michelle Crees has some strong experience in the bow seat and so will be an asset to this crew. The second crew has Sorcha Webb sitting in the bow seat after having rowed in th J15 2^nd 8+ at National Schools last year in the three seat so there will be some good power in this crew. It will be interesting to see the progression of these now J16 athletes over the course of this year after having finishing the season last year in the C final.

Latymer Upper School Boat Club

This rowing club has had some strong past experiences with this category after having made the WJ18 8+ A final and rowed through to a 5^th place finish at National Schools last year. These athletes had some even greater results in the sculling events with a silver medal in the Ch G4x in the previous National Schools Regatta. It will be interesting to see whether these experienced athletes and coaching can help to gain speed in the sweep events.

The experienced athletes, whether this includes race experience or specific skills, will be essential in helping the crews to reach the top places in the WJ18 8+ category. We expect to see the likes of Henley Rowing Club, Lady Eleanor Holles Boat Club and Latymer Upper School Boat Club competing for the top spots with experienced past racing in this event.

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