Women’s Eights Head of the River Race 2023 – Overseas Pennant Preview

This year, nine overseas crews from five different countries have entered WEHoRR, which has tripled from last year, proving the prestige and importance associated with this race. Although there is a notable lack of entries from the club that has most frequently held the pennant in the last ten years, CUS Milano, on the other hand, there are a number of crews who seem to be making their first recent appearance at the event, which will no doubt lead to some exciting racing.

NUI Galway BC, Ireland

With three crews entered, the cohort from NUI Galway makes up a third of all the overseas crews. Having won nine national titles at last year’s Irish Rowing Championships, making them the most successful club and university of the season, they should have confidence when coming in to compete this weekend. As last year’s fastest overseas crew at WEHoRR, the NUI Galway crews will be racing fiercely to retain the pennant.

Ruder-Club Tegel 1886 e.V., Germany

While this entry from RC-Tegel, a club that has made numerous appearances at WEHoRR over the years, is unsurprising in and of itself, but what does come as a bit of a shock is the fact that this crew constitutes the entire German cohort, a country which ordinarily makes up a much larger fraction of the overseas entries. As such, it will be interesting to see what they bring to the race this weekend.

Aviron CentraleSupélec Paris, France

Another university crew to rival NUIG, ACP have already proven themselves on both a national and international stage this year. After their women’s eight won at the Championnats de France universitaires (French University Championships) last May, the crew was then invited to compete at the European Universities Rowing Championships in Istanbul in September, where they came away with sixth. This weekend they will be looking to build on their result from last year’s WEHoRR, where they came second, missing out on the pennant to NUIG.

Willem III, Netherlands

This crew from Willem III makes up one of three Dutch entries this year, along with Roeivereniging De Laak and URV Viking. Having been cited as one of the country’s oldest, largest, and most prestigious rowing clubs, it will be exciting to see them race in London this weekend.

Predicyion

While there are several new names in the overseas pennant category, I would expect to see similar results to last year, with one of the crews from NUIG leading the pack, and the entry from ACP giving them a run for their money.

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Caitlin Bond

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