Along with the new event of Junior Fours Head, a new category has been born – the mixed quads. A new and exciting event that offers the opportunity for athletes from both the female and male squads to race together. In addition to opening the Tideway to smaller clubs that cannot field a full quad entry, the mixed quad introduces a dynamic element to the teamwork within crews, while also delivering thrilling racing for spectators.
Tideway Scullers School
Leading the pack is the Tideway Scullers quad, stroked by Griffiths, and they enter as clear favourites. Not only do they have the advantage of racing on their home water, a significant asset on a notoriously demanding river, but TSS also boasts one of the strongest junior sculling programmes in the country across both genders. Both squads have frequent A-final and podium appearances to their name, and are no strangers to the weekend of Henley Royal Regatta in both The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup and The Fawley Challenge Cup. Although their ‘A’ crews are entered into the boys and girls categories separately, this mixed quad still looks absolutely formidable.
Emanuel School Boat Club
Lining up behind TSS is another home competitor, Emanuel School. While their junior programme may not have the same national depth as Tideway Scullers, racing on home waters definitely plays to their advantage. Their athletes know the bends, the stream, and the landmarks inside and out, knowledge that can make or break a race when conditions become tricky. Expect Emanuel to be tidy, well-drilled, and eager to maintain pressure on Tideway throughout the race as they fight to claim home water.
Sir William Borlase Grammar School Boat Club
Sir William Borlase has entered not one but two crews into this new category, a clear demonstration of the depth of their junior squads. Borlase has a long-standing tradition of producing technically sharp and competitive scullers, and fielding multiple lineups suggests confidence in their mixed quad abilities. Missing the A-final results seen by other clubs in this category, Borlase may come into tomorrow’s racing off the radar of some people. However, with their technical focus and blending of their squads, they may be able to find better boat speed than other crews struggling to gel.
Stratford-Upon-Avon Boat Club
Starting fourth, Stratford-upon-Avon will be looking to break into the podium positions over the demanding course. As a small club, both genders have trained together since J13, giving this crew a significant advantage over their rivals in separate squads. Combined with training on the winding bends of the Avon, crew fluidity and steering should be no barrier to their success. Swapping from sweep to scull, the middle pair of Vondrak and Sissins-Roffey bring power and experience to the crew, working as a pair for this season and last. With this combination of technique and teamwork, Stratford will definitely be one to watch over the weekend.
Canford School Boat Club
With experience in the mixed crews category, Canford School brings a new advantage to the river. Having entered the mixed eights at the Schools’ Head of the River twice, Canford are used to producing high-quality mixed crews. Notably claiming the win in the mixed eights at short this year by a sizable 15-second margin, the school has boosted its reputation. Amongst the crew is trialist Freya Coupe, who recently excelled at the GB supplementary event and will undoubtedly be an asset to her crew as she sets the rhythm along the course.
Prediction
The frontrunner for the weekend appears to be home crew Tideway Scullers, but the battle for second has far more potential for a tight race. I would say Borlase, Stratford, and Canford are all in the mix, with the latter holding slightly more experience to edge out the silver. It is a tough call between Stratford and Borlase, but I believe the former could just clinch it, leaving Borlase to round out in fourth.
