After a three-year run of unfortunate cancellations, WEHoRR finally returns to the Tideway with a record number of entries. There is arguably no better event to find the season’s peak in women’s head racing than this infamous four-and-a-quarter-mile course. With eighteen pennants and trophies up for grabs this year, winners will join a long and distinguished list of women’s crews that have made their mark on the tideway course and, consequently, women’s rowing history. The Head Pennant, along with Second and Third Place Pennants, are among the most sought after of these accolades, as they can be claimed by any crew irrespective of their eligibility for the other pennants. I have no doubt that competition to come out on top will be fierce.
Leander Club
Ever a force to be reckoned with, it comes as no surprise that no less than four Leander crews are entered this year. The historic dominance shown by the Leander ladies at WEHoRR is nothing short of exemplary in our sport. I imagine we will see some very familiar faces scattered throughout the four Leander crews, perhaps none more so than in their ‘A’ boat. As it stands, Leander ‘A’ appear to be the favourites for the Head Pennant.
Oxford Brookes University BC
Despite their entire squad’s notable absence from BUCS Head in February, I anticipate that Brookes will nonetheless seek to maintain their gold standard of women’s eight performances through the form of their four respective entries supplied here. If anyone is going to give Leander ‘A’ a real race to the line, it is probably going to be the Brookes ‘A’ boat. They will certainly take to the Tideway all guns blazing, particularly ahead of an action-packed local and regatta season.
Tideway Scullers School
While their namesake suggests they may be more inclined to two-bladed events, the women’s sweep programme at Scullers has come on leaps and bounds in recent years. Under the stewardship of Keiran Clark the Scullers women have gone from strength to strength, culminating in sweep wins in both the Aspirational Club Eight and Aspirational Club Four at Henley Women’s last year. This existing record card certainly places the Scullers ‘A’ boat in strong contention for the Head Pennant.
Edinburgh University BC
Perhaps considered by some to be a wild card contender for a podium finish, Edinburgh University are certainly not to be ruled out of this star-studded lineup of crews. With a win already secured in the Women’s Championship Eights category at BUCS Head, the Edinburgh girls are certainly making a name for themselves on the national scene. However, will a pennant be too much of a tall order? I can’t wait to find out.
University of London BC
The home advantage always comes in handy on the Tideway, so it would be naive to rule out UL’s top boat from a potential podium finish. Much like their traditional university rivals Brookes, UL did not attend BUCS Head last month but, given the track record of the athletes in this eight, I doubt that a missed racing opportunity will phase them.
Rio Olympic Eight
This is an exciting entry from eight of the nine who won that historic silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, with none other than double Olympic Champion Helen Glover playing substitute for Olivia Carnegie-Brown who is unavailable due to being halfway across the world in Australia. They are entered into the Masters B category as a composite and as such set off 80th in the start order, thus dampening their chances of taking the headship. Indeed, they will barely have trained together since that Olympic final in 2016, however quality and experience never fade and it would be a slight on this crew not to mention them.
Prediction
With such a strong lineup this year, the Head Pennant, along with second and third place, will indeed be a hard fought contest among the top performers. With national and international-standard athletes in their midst, and the squad’s unrivalled dominance this season, I foresee that Leander’s ‘A’ crew will come away with the fastest time of the day. That said, I have no doubt that the crews highlighted above and additional contenders will rise to the challenge of denying Leander of the prime podium position. The battle for second and third place pennants will be equally nail-biting. One thing is certain: with regatta season just around the corner, WEHoRR is the perfect opportunity for the country’s strongest women’s eights to firmly establish themselves on the national scene.
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