The start of regatta season is upon us! This Monday will see 34 women’s Junior 15 quads take to Dorney Lake and attempt to come home with a medal. With much more water time than last year, I’m anticipating more technical finesse and exciting racing from this cohort.
Henley Rowing Club
Returning as victors from the octuple by a margin of six seconds at Junior Sculling Head, Henley will expect some significant results from this quad. They showed promise in their J14 season last year, with a first-place finish here in the quad, but they didn’t quite step up to the standard at National Schools’, returning home in fourth place. Nonetheless, they show potential, and I can see Henley putting up a magnificent fight and maybe returning with a medal this Monday.
Headington
As in all women’s rowing previews, I cannot forego mentioning Headington, who have dominated this season so far. The quad finished first at Junior Sculling Head by a remarkable 13 seconds, which built on a 35-second victory at Kingston Head, showing that they can step up to the mark when the pressure increases. We could see Headington with a substantial lead on Monday, in a field of great promise.
Marlow
Following in the footsteps of their older counterparts who came second in this event last year, the Marlow J15 quad are already having a great season. They will have confidence after their second-place finish at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head, and putting their less-remarkable regatta season results from last year aside, they could be racing their way to a medal, ahead of the large field. Will they chase down Headington for a gold medal, or is 13 seconds too much to catch?
Rob Roy
Off the back of a great season last year, which seems to have continued into a prosperous 2025, Rob Roy are a top contender for the medals. Rob Roy were absent from the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head, so we cannot yet tell how they will stack up against the new and improved competition this year. So far, they qualified for the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta and collected a bronze medal, which follows their silver medal here last year and a bronze medal at the National Schools’ Regatta. Can they carry on their momentum to match the new competition?
Notable Mentions
King’s School Worcester placed fourth in this event at JIRR, and Kingston also placed fourth in the quad at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head, suggesting they’re an even match for the minor A-final places.
Predictions
1st – Headington
2nd – Henley
3rd – Rob Roy
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