A host of athletes will be descending on the Tideway this November, with crews boasting Olympians, world champions, and rising stars within the British racing scene. The women’s championship quads at this year’s Fours Head are sure to be exceptionally competitive, providing an opportunity for clubs to showcase the ability of their athletes at the most significant event left in the British racing calendar for 2025.
Leander Club
Leander have three crews entered this year, of which their top boat is sure to be the crew to beat this year. The combination of Sarah McKay, Hannah Scott, Becky Wilde and Lola Anderson, all of whom raced at the World Rowing Championships in Shanghai this year for Great Britain, where they brought home a silver medal, will be the first crew in this event to be set off. First off the start line, I predict this crew will lead the course from start to finish, making them the top contender for this race.
Leander’s ‘B’ boat also boasts a wealth of experienced athletes. With every member of this crew having raced for Great Britain at a senior level, this crew will be a sure challenge for the Leander top boat. Lucy Glover and Cam Nyland raced together in the women’s double at the World Rowing Championships this year; hopefully, they will be able to bring their experience with racing together under pressure into this crew and give Leander’s top boat a run for their money. They are joined by Freya Keto, who made her debut on the international stage this year at World Rowing Cup III, and Katie Mole, who raced in World Rowing Cup III in 2024.
Reading University
Reading University enters this race as a worthy challenger to the big dog that is the Leander ‘A’ boat. Three of the athletes in this boat, Finnola Stratton, Megan Knight and Ellie Cooke, raced at this year’s U23 World Rowing Championships for Great Britain, with the fourth member, Zara Povey, having raced at the FISU World University Rowing Championships. All four of these women raced at the November GB trails, with Stratton placing first in the senior division and Povey as the first U23. Knight was second in the U23 division, with Cooke placing 22nd. This crew’s success, both together and individually, makes them a formidable opponent, one that I have little doubt will aim to provide a challenge for Leander’s crews.
Tideway Scullers & University of London
A mixing pot of experience, this composite crew of the Tideway Scullers and the University of London could be an unexpected challenger. With every crew member boasting international racing experience, it will be interesting to see how they perform next to teams such as Leander and Reading University. Meg Saunders of Tideway Scullers is arguably the most experienced member of this crew, having been selected as one of Great Britain’s spares for the 2022 World Rowing Championships, along with two GB vests at the U23 level, where she raced in an eight both times, winning silver in 2019. Jess Martin of the University of London raced in the women’s four at the 2024 U23 World Rowing Championships. Daisy Faithfull, also of the University of London, competed at the FISU World University Games this summer in the women’s eight. Finally, Ansley Vicars is the youngest in this crew, hailing from Tideway Scullers. She raced in the women’s eight at the 2024 U19 World Rowing Championships, where she fought her way to a silver medal. The mix of athletes in this boat, all powerhouses in their own right, would be a worthy challenger for any of the crews in this event, in which I expect they will finish within the top five, if not higher.
Bath University / Hartpury University / University of London
Another fascinating example of athletes coming together to take on the tumultuous Tideway, this crew is stacked full of talent. The middle pairing of Rebekah Court and Ella Fullman are both current Bath University athletes; Fullman won gold for England at this year’s Home International Rowing Regatta, whilst Court took gold in the women’s quad at the 2025 European Universities Rowing Championships. Dash won the C-final at the 2025 U23 World Rowing Championships as part of the women’s double, and Brooks won the club single at the 2025 British Rowing Club Championships.
Prediction
With the exceptional pedigree on display in this event, it isn’t easy to single out where certain boats may place. However, I expect the Leander ‘A’ crew to finish at the front of the field, with the Leander ‘B’ boat hot on their tail. Reading University’s ‘A’ boat could contend for second, but I would predict third place for them. Singling out crews and the order they may place is quite challenging with such an experienced field this year, but I do expect the Tideway Scullers and University of London composite to be at the top of the remaining field.
