The Junior Fours Head is sure to become one of the most pivotal events in the head season calendar. In its inaugural year, this race has already attracted entries from top crews across the country, eager to test their speed down the championship course. The women’s Junior 18 coxed fours category is no exception to this; sure to provide some close racing amongst a formidable field of athletes with notable entries from crews such as Wallingford Rowing Club, Headington School and Henley Rowing Club.
The upcoming racing on the Tideway presents an ideal opportunity early in the season for crews to compare performances and make significant steps forward during the winter months.
Wallingford Rowing Club
Paving the way down the course for the junior women’s coxed fours is Wallingford Rowing Club, a fast, formidable and well-known crew with a strong lineup of athletes. Lily Clayton, Lucy Mead, Florence Schilizzi and Naomi Bell have shown their speed consistently, with an impressive mix of results between them in both current and previous seasons. Naomi Bell achieved a victory in a single at the 2025 Henley Long Distance Sculls (with Lucy Mead following close behind in the same event) and also won the most recent instalment of the GBRT U19 Trials in Boston. Notably, this crew also achieved a decisive win at the Reading Small Boats Head on 11 October, along with numerous other successes, such as Lily Clayton’s strong run in the single at the Wallingford Small Boats Head. Furthermore, these athletes performed well in the trickier conditions at the National Schools’ Regatta held in Nottingham in May this year, securing fifth place in the A-final in the championship eights category.
Headington School Oxford Boat Club
Perhaps the most renowned of the entries in this category, Headington School’s speed and skill will prove challenging for other competitors to overcome down the course. The results previously achieved by this crew speak for themselves, with two athletes, Elayna Yap and Lucy Pillar, racing at the U19 World Rowing Championships in the eight earlier in the year. These Headington School athletes were both in the crew that won The Prince Philip Challenge Trophy at Henley Royal Regatta in July and featured in the crew that took silver just under a month ago at the Head of the Charles in Boston. It goes without saying that this crew will be chasing victory at the Junior Fours Head, looking to gain ever more speed down the Tideway and reinforce their formidable reputation at the pinnacle of junior women’s rowing.
Henley Rowing Club
Yet another big-name entry into this category, Henley Rowing Club will be looking to put down a strong performance to cement their place at the top end of the field early on in the season. The crew lineup is one of great prowess. Most notably, the presence of Chloe Hughes, who raced in the coxless four at the 2025 U19 World Rowing Championships, highlights the depth of talent within the boat, alongside Sophie Floyd, who secured a victory in the women’s Junior 16 first eights at this year’s National Schools Regatta. Along with this impressive record of both national and international achievements, Henley athletes have also demonstrated their speed at a regional level, with strong finishes in various categories at both the Wallingford Small Boats Head and the Henley Long Distance Sculls. Yet another significant regional accomplishment that should also be noted is victory in the coxed four at Reading Small Boats Head. I believe this crew is on track for great things this season, with comprehensive skill evident in their rowing; they are sure to put down a confident performance on the course this weekend.
St Edward’s School
St Edward’s School continues the imposing list of crew names for the women’s Junior 18 coxed four event at the Junior Fours Head. Teddies is a programme that is well-known for providing great strength and endurance along the Tideway, placing third at the Schools’ Head of the River Race 2025. This performance continued into the National Schools’ Regatta 2025, where they secured bronze, with Allegra Jossa sitting in the three-seat. In evidence of their versatility, Rosie Reynolds also competed at the 2025 Coupe de la Jeunesse Beach Sprints. Additionally, these athletes recently achieved a strong result at the Head of the Charles in the women’s youth eights, finishing 24th overall in a large field. This boat will certainly be challenging to secure a podium position.
Lady Eleanor Holles School Boat Club
The Lady Eleanor Holles School crew is among the top contenders in this category, having put down some excellent results earlier this season. They won at the Kingston Small Boats Head and secured a second and fifth place finish in women’s Junior 18 quads at Wallingford Long Distance Sculls. Along with this, these athletes showcased their talent with a sixth-place finish at the National Schools’ Regatta 2025 against an outstanding field of eights. It will be exciting to see what this race holds for the Lady Eleanor Holles crew; they are most definitely ones to watch.
Prediction
It goes without saying that the women’s Junior 18 coxed four category is dominated by the biggest names in junior women’s rowing, ensuring a magnificent show of skill and endurance along the Tideway at the inaugural Junior Fours Head. It is impossible to ignore the indomitable force that is Headington School, as the top contender for victory; however, Wallingford and Henley could most definitely pose a significant threat in what I’m sure will be a thrilling show of speed and talent.
