As the summer season slowly kicks into gear, anticipation builds for an exhilarating weekend of side-by-side racing spanning 2000 metres. Following a head race season largely dominated by sweep boats, scullers eagerly await their moment to shine, showcasing the fruits of their winter training. With only six entries expected in this category, the prospect of a straight final adds an extra layer of excitement to the mix.
Leander Boat Club
The formidable presence of Leander looms large in this event, as they field both an ‘A’ and a ‘B’ crew with clear intentions of asserting their dominance once again. The group who could potentially be in these crews is comprised of scullers with impressive individual accolades. Anna Cowell won a silver in the women’s quad at Coupe de la Jeunesse in 2022 and a gold in the women’s quad at Home Internationals in 2023; Rosa Thompson has won the championship quads at Henley Women’s Regatta (HWR) twice, and Charlotte Fennel was part of the 2017 junior world championship squad before becoming a 2023 Ivy League champion. These women are likely to be mixed with athletes such as Flynn Greene, Sophie Gray, Cam Nyland, Franny Hunt Davis, and Jaime Ford. Although being ranked ‘A’ and ‘B’ in this event, it is uncertain how matched these crews will really be. Backed by previous victories in quads, including the Borne Cup at HWR, Leander are poised to deliver a formidable challenge in this category, regardless of the athletes’ boat designations.
Molesey Boat Club
Molesey also looks to be showcasing two competitive quads, aiming to rival Leander’s supremacy. Notable among their ranks is MBC-Wormleighton, featuring Héloïse Wormleighton, Megan Slabbert, Kate Lush and Bass Andre. Héloïse, Megan and Bass were all invited to GB final trials this year, with Megan racing as an U23 at the world championships last year. Héloïse has also experienced success in a Molesey quad before, having made the quarter-final at Henley Royal Regatta last year. Kate, who recently moved over from New Zealand for the summer, has also seen success in a quad, featuring in the U23 world championship quad in 2019 for New Zealand. This undoubtedly creates an intimidating crew for the starting roster. The other boat includes Claudia Alexander, Imogen Parker Elms, Alex Bolton, and Georgia Caitlin. Both outfits in this category embody a blend of experience and ambition. Bolstered by strong performances, which include finishing sixth overall at the Women’s Head of the River, this duo will be keen to impress.
Tideway Scullers School
Eager to challenge their slightly older counterparts, Tideway Scullers assemble a junior crew poised to make waves in the competition. The club’s last entry under the name ‘Vicars’ came second in the women’s youth quad category at the Head of the Charles 2023, so it is more than likely to be a similar crew this weekend. More recently, Tideway Scullers came first in the open school/junior coxless quad category at Hammersmith Head. This year’s successes underscore their proficiency in quad events, setting the stage for a showdown against established powerhouses.
Twickenham Rowing Club
While details remain scarcer regarding Twickenham Rowing Club’s ‘Andrew’ crew, the club’s growing reputation and burgeoning talent pool demand attention. Their GB start squad continues to grow, whilst their history of producing standout scullers at GB U23 level such as Vwaire Obukohwo and Jade Lindo cannot be ignored. As they strive to assemble a crew capable of matching the pace set by their rivals, Twickenham’s potential to disrupt the established order adds an element of intrigue to the proceedings.
Prediction
The presence of powerhouses Leander and Molesey in this category once again poses the question of which name will grace the winner’s trophy. While Leander’s line-up of scullers undeniably promises stiff competition, the national and international pedigree of Molesey’s ‘Wormleighton’ crew suggests to me that they may emerge triumphant. Leander’s relentless pursuit of victory ensures that they will make that achievement challenging, with both of their crews likely securing closely-contested second and third positions. Nonetheless, it will remain interesting to see whether the likes of Twickenham Rowing Club and Tideway Scullers can throw a wildcard into the mix.
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