This weekend, the Scottish Highlands will echo with the rhythm of oars as hundreds of rowers descend on Inverness for the UK’s northernmost head race. The Inverness Head Races, a two-day spectacle featuring three divisions each day, offer athletes the opportunity to test their mettle and track their progress.
Hosted by Inverness Rowing Club, the race unfolds along a stunning 4.5km stretch of the Caledonian Canal. Starting just above Dochgarroch Lock—north of the legendary Loch Ness—the course winds its way to Torvean, delivering both challenge and charm in equal measure. Nestled in the valley of the Great Glen, with a backdrop of rolling hills, this event offers a truly unique setting.
For the senior women, Saturday kicks off with championship singles, coxed fours and doubles. Then on Sunday, the championship coxless fours, quads and pairs will take centre stage.
Championship Singles
There are 12 entries in this event. These consist of three entries from Clydesdale Amateur Rowing Club, two entries each from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen University Boat Clubs, two from Strathclyde Park Rowing Club and one entry from St Andrew’s University Boat Club.
The standout athlete here is Grace Dawson from Edinburgh University Boat Club, who was the third U23 in the GB trials at the beginning of the month. Having only started rowing in September 2022, Grace is a testament to Edinburgh’s commitment to developing athletes with performance sports backgrounds into elite rowers. As a former competitive runner, Grace has additionally won Henley Women’s Regatta and is a multiple Home International Rowing Regatta medallist for Team Scotland.
The highest placed of last year’s returners is Ava Robertson from Glasgow University Boat Club. Ava is a Henley Women’s Regatta 2025 finalist (aspirational lightweight singles), also represented Scotland at Home Internationals in the summer in the quadruple and double sculls, and has raced at the European University Rowing Championships. Ava will undoubtedly be looking to improve her third-place finishing position at Inverness last year.
Clydesdale Amateur Rowing Club is fielding three athletes, all of whom reached the final of the aspirational quadruple sculls event at this year’s Henley Women’s Regatta. They are Elle Sutherland, Veronika Vohnikova and Robyn Patrick.
However, also racing are two of the winners of the Chairman’s Trophy for aspirational quadruple sculls – Polly Swaile and Ella Gildert – representing Strathclyde Park Rowing Club. Polly is a GB team trialist, having most recently attended trials at the start of this month.
Notable mentions must go to this year’s winner of the aspirational singles event at Henley Women’s Regatta – Hansine Marshall, from St Andrew’s University Boat Club, who will, of course, be a strong contender. Former GB Junior, Jemima Aspinall of Aberdeen University Boat Club, is also one to watch.
In terms of predictions, her meteoric rise from beginner to elite and most recent performance at GB team trials make Grace Dawson the favourite to win the championship singles, with Ava Robertson and Polly Swaile likely to be her main opposition.
Championship Coxed Fours
With nine entries in total, three from Edinburgh University Boat Club and St Andrew’s University Boat Club, two from Aberdeen University Boat Club and one from Glasgow University Boat Club, this is set to be a battle of Scotland’s scholar-athletes.
Last year, Edinburgh University Boat Club took the top three places in this event. One of five universities recognised by British Rowing as a High Performance Academy, Edinburgh had a particularly successful summer. Their coxed four won the Frank Harry Cup at Henley Women’s Regatta, and at Henley Royal Regatta (for the second year running) they were the only university to qualify three boats into the Island Challenge Cup. This undoubtedly makes them the favourites. Of the three crews entered, the crew containing rowers from their current first eight – Lucy McClean, Georgia Haynes and Grace Chapman, along with Jess Mack, seems the most likely to win.
However, the St Andrew’s University Boat Club’s crew, containing Sophia Issenberner (reigning FISU World Champion in the eight and recent GB trialist), Grace Davison, Ella Hall and Layla McKinlay, will definitely want to challenge the ‘Baby Blue’ army. As will Glasgow University Boat Club’s four featuring Team Scotland’s Ava Robertson and team mates Kirsty McRobb, Gemma Collins and Sammie Deykin.
Overall, it is likely that the winning crew will be from Edinburgh University Boat Club. That said, the field is stacked with talent, meaning Edinburgh may not have it all their own way.
Championship Doubles
There are five entries in this event, with an up-and-coming crew being St Andrew’s University Boat Club’s Hansine Marshall and Sophia Issenberner. Hansine made history earlier this year, becoming the first ever University of St Andrew’s athlete to win Henley Women’s Regatta, taking the Bernard and Pauline Churcher Cup for aspirational single sculls. This result was particularly remarkable given that Hansine had less than 12 months’ rowing experience at the time. Sophia is a current FISU World Champion, having won gold in the women’s eights in Germany, and is also a recent GB triallist.
Another recent triallist is Strathclyde Park Rowing Club’s Polly Swaile, who is teaming up with fellow Henley Women’s Regatta winner, Ella Gildert. Polly was a fraction of a second faster than Sophia Issenberner at the November GB team trials, which should make for some close racing at Inverness.
Notable mention goes to the Clydesdale Amateur Rowing Club’s duo of Robyn Patrick and Veronika Vohnikova. Veronika finished second in this event last year, and both Robyn and Veronika reached the final of the aspirational quads at Henley Women’s Regatta.
Ultimately, I think it will be a close race between St Andrew’s University Boat Club and Strathclyde Park Rowing Club. Both crews contain recent GB trialists and current Henley Women’s Regatta champions – I can’t wait to see how this one pans out!
Championship Coxless Fours
Filling half of the eight entries in this event, last year’s winners, Edinburgh University Boat Club, return to claim the title. Their aforementioned performance over the summer demonstrates the strength and depth of talent of their current squad. The crew lists for Edinburgh reflect this and include former GB juniors such as Penny Irvine, Izzy Clements, who competed at this year’s European Rowing Championships and U23 World Rowing Championships, and GB trialist Grace Dawson. The crews appear to be a mix of new and established athletes, potentially matched crews, with no obvious winning combination standing out.
Glasgow University Boat Club have fielded two crews, with the one containing Henley Women’s Regatta finalist and European University Rowing Championships competitor, Ava Robertson, most likely to be the fastest.
St Andrew’s University Boat Club’s crew includes FISU champion and GB team trialist, Sophia Issenberner. Also worthy of a mention is Aberdeen University Boat Club’s quad, as it features promising U21 talent in the form of Jemima Aspinall. Jem has previously represented GB in the junior women’s coxless fours at the Coupe de la Jeunesse.
I would say that last year’s winners, Edinburgh University Boat Club, are favourites to win again. Their impressive summer makes them a formidable powerhouse of women’s rowing coming into this event. However, the rest of the field also contains a wealth of talent, meaning there will be no room for complacency.
Championship Quadruple Sculls
Edinburgh University Boat Club did not participate in this event last year, but this year, they are fielding no fewer than four crews. It is difficult to determine which of these crews is the fastest, as they contain a range of athletes, including those from the current first eight, as well as athletes from the ‘B’ and ‘C’ crews that raced at Henley Royal Regatta in the summer. Amongst these athletes are the aforementioned Izzy Clements, who raced at the European Rowing Championships in the lightweight single, and also at the U23 World Rowing Championships representing Ireland in the women’s double sculls, and Grace Dawson (GB trialist and Henley Women’s Regatta winner).
There are two composite crews amongst the seven crews racing – one from Clydesdale Amateur Rowing Club and Glasgow University Boat Club, and the other a blend of Strathclyde Park Rowing Club and Glasgow University Boat Club. The Strathclyde Park composite contains Henley Women’s Regatta winners Polly Swaile and Ella Gildert, along with Rosalind Wilson and GB junior Kloe Hunter, who won this event in 2024. Whilst the Clydesdale Amateur Rowing Club crew includes last year’s second placed stalwart Veronika Vohnikova and her doubles partner Robyn Patrick (alongside Elle Sutherland and Kirsty McRobb) it is difficult to see them being able to overturn the Edinburgh crews.
Accordingly, I believe the Edinburgh University Boat Club crews have the strongest chance of winning this event. However, it seems that matched fours may have been potentially fielded, which will make for exciting racing, but there is no immediately apparent winning crew.
Championship Coxless Pairs
Five pairs are racing in the third and final division of the day. Two from St Andrew’s University Boat Club and Glasgow University Boat Club, and one pair from St Andrew Boat Club.
With Sophia Issenberner on board, the St Andrew’s University Boat Club pairing seems the most promising. The FISU World Champion, Sophia, teams up with Grace Davison.
Potential challengers are the Glasgow University Boat Club’s pair of Gemma Collins and Kirsty McRobb. Both athletes have represented Team Scotland at The Home International Rowing Regatta.
Whilst the other competitors have raced in earlier divisions, the St Andrew Boat Club’s pair of Grace Bake and Charley Faint are the only crew not to have raced in any other event. The question is, will the advantage of fresh legs be enough to take on the talented field?
To predict, St Andrew’s University Boat Club (Sophia Issenberner and Grace Davison) are likely to win this category. However, with the majority of the athletes having raced the 4.5km course several times already over the weekend, stamina and determination will undoubtedly play a significant role.
