Reaching the pinnacle of the summer season, the very best junior women up and down the country will flock towards Henley Women’s Regatta in heavy anticipation of Henley Royal Regatta only a couple of weeks later. The Peabody Cup for Junior Eights is always a highly anticipated showdown of the top schoolgirl rowing programmes, with this year no exception. Notably missing any international competitors, the cup will stay home in the UK, but with whom is still uncertain. Let’s dive into our potential contenders.
Shiplake College Boat Club
The underdog champions of the National Schools’ Regatta, Shiplake, will take on the time trials with the confidence of their speed at Nottingham, where they crossed the line with a seven-second margin. Looking back at Shiplake’s history, this victory was not quite the dramatic surprise some made it out to be; it had been coming for a while. Both boys’ and girls’ squads have become staple names at the business end of junior rowing, with the college placing a crew on the Friday of every junior event at Henley Royal Regatta last year. The speed built up in this establishment has just been waiting for its moment to emerge. If Shiplake can continue on this fierce competition streak, we may witness pure domination on their home river.
Headington School Oxford Boat Club
Returning champions, Headington, will be the first junior eight to fly down the iconic Henley course on the Saturday morning time trials. Losing out to Shiplake at the National Schools’ Regatta will only fuel their fire to come back fighting next weekend, as we saw them do in 2024, where they overturned Hinksey at this event, having lost the national title to them four weeks prior. Peaking at Henley could be called a Headington speciality. I have no doubt this is a repeatable feat for Headington, enabling them to go into the weekend as one of the stand-out favourites.
St Edward’s School Oxford
Rounding out the podium at Nottingham, Teddies came out strong off the line to secure clear water back to fourth, earning themselves a medal for the second year running at the National Schools’ Regatta. Losing out to Shiplake by just 0.2 seconds at the Schools’ Head of the River, the crew are within touching distance of the national champions but will need to dig deep to reclaim their place alongside Shiplake. With previous experience in the semifinals of Henley Women’s Regatta from 2024, St Edward’s will surely be looking to take it one step further this year and secure a spot in the final if the draw can fall in their favour.
Latymer Upper School
Putting in an exceptional push at the Metropolitan Regatta on Saturday, Latymer stormed their final to climb up three places from the time trial in a powerful display of teamwork and skill. Slowly climbing the rowing leaderboard over the last two seasons, the crew delivered Latymer’s best finish in the girls’ championship eights event as they led the non-medallists over the line, holding clear water over fifth. After being knocked out in the first round last year, it is safe to say we can expect a noticeable improvement from the girls in blue this time around.
Wallingford Rowing Club
After a successful run at the Schools’ Head of the River, Wallingford broke into the saturated private school championship eights category to stake their ground as a competitive club crew. Since then, the crew has consistently challenged the top schools and the elitist narrative that can swirl around eights rowing, placing a respectable fifth at the National Schools’ Regatta under Katie Greves’ tutelage. Dropping slightly back at Metropolitan Regatta, Wallingford lost out to the Tideway Scullers School and Henley Rowing Club, meaning they may have more of a fight on their hands than initially anticipated, especially if they wish to remain top biller in the club rowing world.
Lady Eleanor Holles Boat Club
On Wallingford’s tail for nearly all of the season is the familiar name of Lady Eleanor Holles (LEH), who finished just 0.3 seconds back at the Schools’ Head of the River, a result that has surely fired them up for the summer competition. Taking the Poplar Regatta in their stride, LEH claimed silver, leaving the Tideway Scullers School 20 seconds behind and sending a strong statement the week before the National Schools’ Regatta. Finishing in sixth place at Nottingham, LEH are set up nicely for a strong performance at the Henley events this season.
Notable Mentions
Also involved in racing are the Godolphin School Boat Club, Tideway Scullers School, Wimbledon High School, and Henley Rowing Club. Expect the latter to be particularly keen to prove a point on home water.
Prediction
Should the draw allow, I believe the final will come down to Shiplake and Headington; the national champions against the returning champions. Despite the previous evidence of Headington’s ability to perform at Henley, I am not sure they will have enough to overthrow Dan Safdari’s girls, leaving them just short at the line. Teddies would be my reserve contender for a surprise overhaul of the favourites.
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