Traditionally a chance for ambitious single scullers to test their stamina over a six-kilometre time-trial, Nottingham Autumn Head now offers beginners and small crew boats a challenging race down the winding River Trent. Local clubs and universities are joined by several exciting visitors this year in what, for many, will be the first race of the season.
Nottingham Rowing Club
Co-hosts Nottingham Rowing Club enter the largest contingent of athletes, and their local knowledge will be tested across multiple categories. Jacob Bailey stroked the club’s coxed four to victory in their opening heat in The Britannia Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta this summer, and he returns in the same seat this weekend. Adrian Biddle finished just four seconds faster than Cameron Black at Vesta Scullers Head a few weeks ago, and the stern pair of the quad who took on The Prince of Wales Challenge Cup this summer do battle again this weekend. Masters sculler David Smith also races in the opening event, and may look to go one better than his impressive second-place finish at Scullers Head.
Derby Rowing Club
Following several wins at Burton Head two weeks ago, an impressive group of athletes will make the short journey from Derby Rowing Club. Alex Knighton will be the first single sculler down the course, and he will look to retain last year’s title as he prepares for U23 GB trials next month. He will then join Patrick Ainsley of Loughborough Students’ Rowing Club in the double scull, who himself won here last year, stroking his university’s quad. James Walker strokes Derby’s quad this year, alongside two other athletes who raced in this summer’s Thames Challenge Cup.
Nottingham University Boat Club
The new academic year has just begun at Nottingham University Boat Club, and several returning will athletes compete this weekend. Ned Floyd raced between the booms with Tom Coates in The Temple Challenge Cup, and they stroke the club’s coxless pair and coxed four respectively this weekend. Joe Palmer has joined Floyd at several national trials over the years, including for the FISU University Games last year. Palmer rows in the single scull this weekend.
Sunderland Rowing Club
Making perhaps the longest journey to race are the athletes from Sunderland Rowing Club. Star sculler Hayden MacDonald looks to build on a summer in which he represented Wales at the Home International Beach Sprints and won his category at South Hylton Long Distance Sculls. MacDonald will stroke the quad after he has competed in the single against club-mate Eggleston, who was runner-up at Talkin Tarn Regatta earlier this year.
Predictions
I expect Alex Knighton to bring home victory in the single sculls event again this year. With sparser entries across the other categories, it is difficult to identify all the other favourites. But my pick of the coxed fours is Nottingham Rowing Club, who I believe will win a narrow victory over competition from the Universities.
