WEHORR is back once again. It’s been a long time since we last saw the Women’s Eights Head and I’m sure the Thames missed it as much as the ladies missed the Thames. Club Pennant is a hot category and is defined as the highest placed British club crew excluding universities, colleges or schools, national and similar associations, with no composite crews allowed. The same is said for the medium and small club pennant, however these are decided on the size of the club racing membership at the time of entry. To add numbers to the ideas, the Club Pennant has 58 crews entered, the Medium Club Pennant has a total of twelve crews, and finally the small Club Pennant has three crews, all trying to come away with a 2022 medal.
Club Pennant
Such a large category will definitely be calling for some large scores! Overall these fifty eight crews can be condensed down into twenty different clubs, which shows some immense depth of squads, with Thames being the leader having a whopping six eights entered. Granted some of these crews will be entered as masters, beginner, senior etc., but what an amazing position for a rowing club to be in. The top ten first off in the club category are Leander Club ‘B’, Tideway Scullers School ‘A’ and ‘B’, Thames RC ‘A’ and ‘B’, Marlow RC ‘A’, Vesta RC ‘A’, Auriol Kensington RC ‘A’, Mortlake Anglian & Alpha BC ‘A’, and finally City of Oxford RC ‘A’. The list goes on, but we can be certain that all the ladies competing will be putting every stroke in to get the finish line the quickest.
My prediction for this main Club Pennant category is Leander ‘B’ taking the lead as the overall winner, however Tideway Scullers School ‘A’ are following straight behind and won’t let them take the easy win, particularly as they have the edge of local river knowledge over Leander Club. This will all be followed closely by Thames RC ‘A ‘who won’t let anyone take the Club Pennant easily.
Medium Club Pennant
Focusing on the Medium Club pennant, Wallingford RC are set off first, London RC ‘A’ are close behind, Henley RC ‘D’, Oxford Academicals RC ‘A’ and then London RC ‘C’. Although there are plenty more eights that will be wanting to improve on their positions, this will no doubt be a competitive category.
I predict that Wallingford will take the pennant, closely followed by London ‘A’ who have the home water advantage and will be hoping to win, and then Henley ‘D’.
Small Club Pennant
A small club category but I guarantee the results will be far from small! Abingdon RC, Fulham Reach BC and London Otters RC, who have a keen idea and local knowledge of the Thames waters. I predict that Abingdon will take the Small Club Pennant, with Fulham Reach in a close second and then London Otters.
Overall, this Women’s Eights Head of the River will be a tough and gruelling race with excitement at every bend and wave. A massive entry list will ensure that there’s plenty of tight races with mere seconds between crews. With that in mind, push those legs every stroke to the line and we wish you all the best of luck in what will be a stellar race.
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