It’s that time of the year again. Heads season is truly underway, with Vesta Scullers Head on the Tideway a couple of weekends ago. Wallingford Long Distance Sculls is up next, ran over 4000m, and with a plethora of new categories compared to last year, including WJ16 Coxless Quads, this will be the first time many crews have raced this season, so it will be exciting to see who has the speed, power, and technical prowess this early in the season to take the win.
Henley Rowing Club
Henley RC: a formidable rowing institution who have had masses of success regionally, nationally and internationally. They have entered two boats into the WJ16 4x- category and at National Schools Regatta last year Henley had two quads entered in the WJ15 4x+ and they came 6th and 22nd respectively. Plus, Henley has pedigree in the WJ16 4x- category with their seemingly unbeatable WJ16 quad from last year winning NSR by some 25s and getting the coveted GB v France vest in the summer. With historically how well Henley performs even this early in the season and their successes at some of the largest regattas of the year last season. They have a high pedigree in quads and in my opinion, they will be a tough team to beat.
Wallingford Rowing Club
Wallingford RC is also another club to watch out for here, as they know the course, it is their home stretch of water. They will know its nuances and the fastest portions of the river which can be vital, especially to younger crews such as in this J16 event. A club known for mainly sculling and doing it with high levels of technical proficiency, like Henley this club has had much success in the domestic circuit and in the WJ16 category such as 3rd place at NSR in the WJ16 2x. Wallingford will want to show off their raw speed at the start of the season.
Headington School Boat Club
Headington School is the only team I can realistically see overturning the aforementioned crews, a team who continues to make a mark on the junior circuit in recent years. Recently this is perhaps more on the sweep side having won at Henley Royal in the Prince Phillip Challenge Cup 2021 and success breeds success. Furthermore, this summer Headington had four athletes competing for GB with an even split between the Coup De La Jeunesse which indicates they are definitely doing something right in their programme. They will definitely have crews to watch at Wallingford Long Distance Sculls.
Predictions
This category is looking really exciting with some crews from farther afield such as Stratford-Upon-Avon Boat Club who may have come all the way to Oxfordshire, having confidence that they can take it to some of the top and most competitive Junior Women’s teams in the country, and perhaps taking the win. But for me, I would be surprised if Henley RC will be overturned for the win by another club.
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