Women’s Head of the River is finally here yet it seems almost comical that we are coming to what normally would be the culmination of Head season with so little racing credentials to bank for this preview. The head-racing season feels as if it’s over before it ever really began. The School Girl’s Eights is always an exciting category, drawing the best junior sweep talent from schools and clubs across the country to the Tideway, so hopefully this weekend will go some way to redeeming the poor formbook.
Headington School Oxford Boat Club.
Headington School are a heavyweight in the junior women’s eight category, winning the National Schools’ Regatta last year alongside a Saturday appearance in the Prince Phillip Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. They also won the Women’s Head of the River last year over the likes of Henley Rowing Club and Wycliffe School. Having taken the win at Quintin and with a crew that is full of talent (Junior world champion Helena Purves, Coupe de la Jeunesse silver medalist Alice Stapley and recent GB Junior Trials winner Sophie Haisman all feature) combined with their long and storied history in the eight should mean Headington will be in a good position to make a run for the win on Saturday.
Hinksey Sculling School.
Another crew full of junior internationals from the world championships and Coupe de la Jeunesse – in Martha Shepherd, Emily Myers, Harriet Noyes and Matilda Macartney – this boat can take on the skill of Headington. They have history in the sweep events, winning the National Schools’ Regatta in the coxless four and producing consistent performances this season at the few head races that have gone forward. Hinksey are looking very strong and will be a top contender come Saturday.
Henley Rowing Club
Henley Rowing Club consistently produce strong junior women’s sweep crews and this eight is unlikely to be an exception. They have two athletes who competed at the Coupe de la Jeunesse in Emily Simmons and Abi Smith, plus they won the eight and coxless four at Hampton Head in February. From the highs of winning this event in previous years, I look forward to seeing if Henley can return to the top of the podium.
Honourable Mentions
Shiplake College Boat Club: They won Wycliffe Head in the eight and are very consistent as a sculling outfit. It is often that good scullers make for good sweep athletes so it will be interesting to see how they transition over.
Scottish Argonauts: This will be a crew comprised of Scotland’s best junior athletes but their greatest challenge may be in amalgamating contrasting styles and training schedules. Chemistry and cohesion will likely be the biggest obstacle to success on the long and winding Thames.
Predictions
I believe it will be a heavyweight battle between Headington and Hinksey for the top spot but after that I think the competition will open out and the fight for third to fifth spots. The unpredictability of the Tideway combined with the nascence of all of these crews in a year that has suffered from so much cancellation should be a great recipe for top racing.
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