The last race of 2025 for many UK athletes has arrived. Bristol University Head takes place in Saltford this weekend and allows for crews to get one final race in before the Christmas break; tying up loose ends from the 2025 season and perhaps creating new rivalries for 2026. With 6 different events for women at this year’s race and little information available on the athletes competing, it’s best not to underestimate any crews entered, especially given the competitive nature that an end of year event produces. With tricky bends, including one with a central buttress bridge, it could well come down to the skill of the coxes and steers on the day.
Women’s Eights
The largest women’s event of this head race, tight margins are to be anticipated. Leander Club will likely be leading the pack, aiming to charge for a top three finish for all their entered crews, repeating their success from last year. That being said, Bristol University will be the first down the course, no doubt aiming to maintain that position in the results table and bring home a win on home turf, as well as having three further eights scattered throughout the start order. However, when Bristol face up against what is perhaps the most successful club in recent history it will no doubt be a challenge to come out on top. Exeter University finished fourth last year and will be aiming to improve on this result in 2025, aiming to come out on top of the university women’s crews, if not top of the podium while they are at it. There are plenty more clubs and universities making their yearly appearance here too, and the likes of Southampton University, City of Bristol and the University of Bath will be looking to challenge some of the bigger names. While I predict that Leander will come out on top, and may well fill out the podium entirely, the likes of Bristol, Bath and Exeter are sure to be hot on their heels.
Women’s Doubles
Despite a smaller number of entries than the women’s eights, I have no doubt that this division will produce some exceptionally competitive racing. With Leander Club producing a dominant performance last year in the Women’s Double, coming home with a win, I expect a similar performance of them this year and with two crews entered, we may get to see some of the competitive spirit that the club is known for. The University of Bristol will once again be looking for a win on home turf, however if the starting order is anything to go off, they may have a hard time in the literal wake of some more favoured crews. It is important not to overlook the Hartpury University and College Crew, the high performance nature of their training will likely produce a challenge for other crews, and I would not be surprised if this crew produced a top three finish. The University of the West of England have two crews entered, and in such a small field of crews I would not be surprised if we see a finish in the top half of entries from one of these crews.
Women’s Single
Another small group of entries competition looks to be tight. Reading Rowing Club’s Jessica Shepherd will be one to watch having spent a great deal of time racing in the single over recent years, and I don’t doubt she will be putting her experience to good use in order to come out on top. Minerva Bath Rowing Club have two singles entered, making it all the more likely that we will see a top three finish from at least one of their crews. Having worked her way up the ranks as a junior, Charlotte Puzey will be looking to make her mark on home water in one of her first senior events, while Naomi Davis from Bournemouth University has also showed promise in the single, having placed in the B Final of the women’s beginner singles at BUCS Regatta 2024. While it seems that Reading will likely come out on top, it’ll be exciting to see what the promising young scullers in the draw can make of the course.
Women’s Quads
With 14 crews entered, this field will be one to watch. High performance pathway clubs, Hartpury University and College and the University of Bath, will be leading the charge, and a finish within the leading crews would not be an unexpected performance from either of these quads. Leander Club will likely be aiming for a win in this division, retaining their championship quads title; however, Cardiff University Boat Club, who won the intermediate women’s quads in 2024, will no doubt also be aiming to climb the ranks in this combined band. Not to be slept on is the University of Birmingham, who have shown strong sculling promise in recent years, and I wouldn’t discount them from being near the top of the rankings either. Dependent on exact lineups, I predict the finish order to be Leander, Bath, then Hartpury, with Birmingham and the second Hartpury crew battling it out for fourth place.
Women’s Coxed Fours
Six crews are entered into this category, suggesting tight competition. Both the University of Exeter and Cardiff University have two crews entered, with Cardiff no doubt aiming to improve on their third place finish from last year. Such a small category will no doubt result in some surprising results, with last years winners not returning, the position of top dog is open for the taking; the question is who will be able to step up to the plate?
Women’s Coxless Fours
Leander Club appear as the favourite to win this category; making up three of the eight entries, a top three finish from each of the Leander crews would not be unexpected. With crews from University of Bristol, Cardiff University and two crews from Exeter University entered into the coxless fours a new layer of competition is added to this event, with each university likely aiming to one up each other. Of these crews I expect that Bristol will the aiming for success on home turf, with the other universities hot on their heels.
Conclusion
Leander Club appear as the favourite crews across all women’s events, however it is important to never underestimate an underdog, especially when crews such as the University of Bath and University of Bristol will be vying for success on their home turf. Bristol University Head will surely be one to watch, and will for many of these crews set the tone for racing in 2026 and allow crews to display the best of their training coming into the new year.
