An event that always draws some big names to race, the George Innes Cup has fewer entries than last year, with only eight scullers competing. However, the standard remains high, and some competitive racing will surely occur over the weekend.
Imogen Grant – Upper Thames Rowing Club
A name that needs little introduction; Grant is an Olympic gold medallist in the lightweight double in Paris in 2024 and a two-time Boat Race winner, amongst countless other accolades. Since then, Imogen has graduated from Cambridge University and started working as a doctor. She has been rowing out of Upper Thames Rowing Club during this period and has had a pause from international competition due to work, instead opting to dominate domestic races. She competed on the Sunday in the women’s championship single at the Metropolitan Regatta, winning by over five seconds. She is the one to beat here.
Tosca Kettler – AUSR Orca (NLD)
The sole international representative in this event, Tosca, a lightweight sculler from the Netherlands, has represented them internationally at several World Rowing Cups in the lightweight single. She won a bronze medal at World Rowing Cup I in 2024. Orca have previously sent multiple scullers across to Henley to compete in the George Innes Cup – with V. Versteegh and T van der Pijl facing off against each other in the first heat in 2024. She will be prepared for the challenges of this event.
Jen Titterington – Nottingham Rowing Club
The sculler from Nottingham has been a mainstay competitor in this event at Henley Women’s Regatta over the previous few years, losing out in the quarterfinals last year to Sarah McKay, who is a recent addition to the GB squad. Jen went on to represent England at the Home International Regatta and won decisively in the single. She placed sixth at the Metropolitan Regatta on the Saturday, and third in the B-final on the Sunday, putting her well in the mix with her competition this weekend.
Molly Curry – Queens University Ladies
Molly is another sculler with previous experience in this event, making the semifinals last year before losing out to the eventual winner. She is a very experienced sculler, representing Great Britain in the quad at the U23 World Rowing Championships in 2023. This season, she won women’s intermediate singles at BUCS Regatta, and placed fifth in the single at the Metropolitan Regatta on the Saturday (before winning Sunday’s B-final), a touch ahead of Jen Titterington. She will be looking to hold onto that margin over the weekend, maybe push one step further than last year, and hopefully make the final.
Polly Shorrock – Cambridge University Boat Club
Potentially an outside name in this draw, Polly was the five-seat of the Blondie eight at the Boat Race earlier in the season, defeating Oxford as part of Cambridge’s clean sweep. Polly learnt to row as a junior back in Florence. Her strong results this season do appear to be in sweep/eights, but she has had prior experience in sculling as a junior at Hereford Cathedral School. The strength and toughness gained from the eights racing this season may translate to some speed this weekend; however, she is unlikely to be in the mix for the semifinals/finals due to the lack of single sculling racing experience this year compared to her competitors.
Prediction
It would be a shock if the George Innes Cup was not taken home by Imogen Grant on Sunday afternoon. However, with plenty of experience competing in this event previously, and other international representation across the board, there should hopefully be some close and exciting racing.
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