Wycliffe Small Boats Head is yet another great opportunity for many clubs and crews to gain more racing experience ahead of the rest of the season.Held over 2500m this is a shorter small boat’s head so it will be exciting to see how crews compare over this distance. The WJ18 coxless quad looks to be an exciting event with four clubs entering multiple crews, making for not only club vs club racing but crew vs crew.
Henley Rowing Club
Regular favourites for taking the victory for their impressive history of having high-performing crews, the three quads entered into this weekend’s racing look to follow this reputation. Recently at Wallingford Fours and Eights Henley produced a winning coxed four and eight with crew members who will be racing in the quads this weekend. Within sculling, they also performed well at Fours Head winning the coxless four and have had multiple strong performances at GB trials showing the strength within their programme. If their recent performances are anything to go off, expect to see three strong performances from Henley coming down the course.
Wycliffe Junior/ College RC
Another club looking to make an impression this weekend is the two crews from Wycliffe Junior and Wycliffe College RC. Racing in one of the quads is E.Fullman who recently placed second at GB trials which was one of many strong performances made at GB trials. the club in recent years looks to be regaining their reputation as a dominant club in the sculling circuit placing 4th last year at the National Schools Regatta and 2nd at the British Rowing Junior Championships. It will be exciting to see how they compare to the other crews coming down the course.
Shrewsbury School
The third club with multiple entries into the J18 Coxless Quad event this weekend comes from Shrewsbury School. They recently raced this boat class at fours head where their highest placed crew came 6th. It will be interesting to see whether they have used the time since then to develop their speed and produce a strong performance this weekend. Furthermore last year Shrewsbury produced consistently high placing crews with their WJ18 eight placing 4th at British Rowing Junior Championships and a bronze at NSR in the coxless four so it will be exciting to see whether they can build on this as they transfer into these sculling boats.
Other crews racing and predictions
Both Monmouth Comprehensive School and Stratford Upon Avon BC add to the multiple crew entries in this event alongside crews from Royal Grammar School Worcester, Dart Totnes RC and Worcester Rowing Club. With it being still early in the season it will be exciting to see how they all perform across this shorter course and contention for the top spot will be tight. With their very strong recent performances though, it looks that Henley RC will produce the crew occupying top spot this weekend.
About The Author
