This year’s Women’s Eights Head of the River Race (WEHoRR) marks the first time the race has been held since 2018 (if you don’t include some of the crews racing at HoRR in 2019). As the current J18s were only J14s in 2018, it is highly likely that this is every single athlete’s first time racing at WEHoRR. As usual, in eight’s racing, it is likely to be a battle between Henley Rowing Club and Headington School Oxford Boat Club.
Henley Rowing Club A, B, C
Henley Rowing Club have entered three crews into WEHoRR 2022. Their ‘A’ Crew starts 11th, the first of all the junior crews. Henley have been dominant this season, winning several races, including all three junior women’s events at Fours Head and winning the JW18 eight at Quintin Head. As well as this, they had some very good results at GB trials. Henley have a lot of depth at the moment, hence they are able to field three high-quality eights. Their first eight should definitely be looking for the victory and potentially placing in the top 10 overall.
Headington School Oxford Boat Club A, B
Despite winning the Junior Women’s Eights at Henley Royal Regatta last year, Headington are yet to win an eights event this season but that could change this weekend. They have entered two crews this year. Like Henley, they too had some strong results at GB trials. Headington will have their work cut out this weekend if they are to beat Henley, but I wouldn’t count them out just yet.
Sir William Perkins’s School Boat Club A, B
Like Headington, SWPS have also entered two eights into WEHoRR this year. SWPS are perhaps better known for their sculling, having some good results in the quad last summer, including making it into the quarter-finals of the Bea Langridge Trophy at Henley Women’s Regatta. It will be interesting to see how this transfers to sweep. If it does, then they could potentially cause an upset.
Scottish Argonauts A, B
The Scottish Argonauts are essentially the top Scottish rowers from lots of different clubs racing together. Scottish crews had lots of sweeping success last summer, with Glasgow Academy winning the coxless four at the 2021 National Schools’ Regatta (NSR) and the coxed four at Henley Women’s Regatta and Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association winning the pair at NSR, before narrowly losing to Glasgow Academy in the semi-finals of the coxed four at Henley Women’s Regatta. Additionally, when several clubs came together to race an eight at the British Rowing Junior Championships, they came third. It will be interesting to see whether these two crews can row well together. If they can, then they could be in contention for victory with Henley and Headington.
Other Entries
Other notable entries include Hinksey Sculling School and the Tideway Scullers School (A, B). Both of these clubs had crews that raced (and won a heat) at Henley Royal Regatta last season. I think it is likely that these crews will be battling it out for fourth.
Prediction
The winner of the School/Junior Pennant is likely to be either Henley or Headington, with the Scottish Argonauts potentially causing an upset. Overall, I think Henley will emerge victorious on the weekend.
Steady Steight
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