Perhaps one of the most highly sought after pennants up for grabs at Women’s Eights Head of the River (WEHoRR), the Senior Pennant is open to all crews – from clubs and universities alike – that do not contain current or previous competitors of international championships. For this reason, competition for the Senior Pennant becomes all the more exciting, as it all boils down to a single standout performance on the day. Below, in alphabetical order, I will highlight some of the crews who I believe are most likely to come out on top, based on performances so far this season.
Durham University BC ‘A’
Undoubtedly still riding the high of their Victor Ludorum-winning success across the board at BUCS Head in early February, including a gold for their Women’s Championship Eight, Durham are certainly ones to watch at WEHoRR. Durham’s performance at BUCS Head was all the more impressive considering that many of Durham’s top athletes took their first strokes in a boat at university, through Durham’s Development Squad programme.
Having had one of the strongest starts of any UK university programme so far this season, Durham’s ‘A’ boat stand themselves in good stead of at least a top-three finish for the Senior Pennant. I look forward to seeing what they bring to a swathe of southern crews in this category.
Oxford Brookes University BC ‘A’
A club that needs no introduction when it comes to world-class eights year on year is Oxford Brookes. With their sights set internationally at the end of the month – when they are due to make their debut at the San Diego Crew Classic to face some of the US’s strongest university women’s crews – this Brookes ‘A’ boat will be equally hungry for the win on this side of the Atlantic at the weekend.
Oxford University Women’s BC
This Oxford crew is highly likely to be the Blue Boat composition that will take to the Tideway once again on 26th March. With their light blue adversaries Cambridge entered into the Open Club category instead, despite being beaten in the ‘Oxford Derby’ against above-mentioned Brookes last weekend, this Oxford crew will seek to dominate their competition at WEHoRR as their 2023 Boat Race training campaign reaches its concluding weeks.
Thames RC ‘A’
The club perhaps most likely to give any of the above-mentioned universities a real race to the line here is the ‘A’ boat hailing from Thames RC. Fresh off the back of some fixtures against the Cambridge University Women’s Blue Boat, this Thames crew are no strangers to performing well against the best, which will serve them well at WEHoRR. Combine that with the home water advantage and Thames could be the club disruptors to an otherwise largely academic Senior Pennant contest on Saturday – watch this space.
Prediction
With three out of four crews highlighted above also in contention for the University Pennant, the chances of one crew claiming victory on both accounts is highly likely. Among them, Oxford Brookes University ‘A’ look to be the strongest on paper and, ultimately, my prediction for the pennant here.
However, I have no doubt that it will be a close call, with Durham, Oxford University, Thames, University of London, Vesta, UL Tyrian Club, Marlow, and Upper Thames all with a chance of coming away with the win themselves.
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