Saturday 28th February will see a field of over 24 junior girls’ eights take to the Tideway. It is certain all these athletes will be wanting to put in a strong performance in preparation for the Schools’ Head of the River of the River taking place on the 13th March, with many using this event as a marker to see where they stand.
Headington School Boat Club
First to set off will be the mighty force that is Headington School Boat Club. With two eights entered setting of first and seventh, the squad depth is obvious, meaning these girls won’t just be fighting to start the new year off well, but they will all be determined to fight against each other and prove their positions to themselves. With four of these girls earning places at top US university rowing programmes next year, the Headington programme is certainly impressive, which I believe will be displayed on Saturday.
Shiplake College Boat Club
Another frequent high-flying name on the scene is Shiplake College, who also have two girls’ eights entered this weekend. They also have an impressive squad size this season, with many talented rowers joining the sixth form squad from a variety of clubs. However, Shiplake’s dominance in the girls’ eight has been turbulent over the last year, falling just less than 20 seconds behind Headington at Schools’ Head of the River last year, before improving that result to win the National Schools’ Regatta a few months later. Their ability to secure rapid improvement over the last years and months makes me excited to see if they can continue this trajectory, and so I am confident that Shiplake will be finishing on a podium position.
Wallingford Rowing Club
Wallingford Rowing Club is at an inherent disadvantage within the junior rowing scene, as their nature as a club makes training at a high volume to compete with boarding schools like Headington and Shiplake logistically tougher. Despite this, they consistently punch above their weight at the highest level within junior girls’ rowing. They scored a fourth-place finish just behind Headington, Shiplake and St Edward’s School at the Schools’ Head of the River last year. Additionally, they recently placed second in the coxed four at the Junior Fours Head. I believe these strong performances, exhibiting their experience along the infamous Tideway stretch, displays their potential to perform well on Saturday.
Prediction
1. Headington School Boat Club
2. Shiplake College
3. Wallingford Rowing Club
Equally, I believe Henley Rowing Club and Headington ‘B’ will certainly be putting in strong performances which could disrupt the podium positions. With such a vast, strong field, there is a lot of room for the order to change, and skilful lines as much as strength will be hugely important along this tricky course to decide the eventual victors.
