Nottingham Autumn Head allows crews to race a variety of courses, varying from a 6000m course downstream, to a short course which consists of 1900m downstream. This year’s competition has entries from around the local area in Nottingham, as well as crews from further afar wishing to see how they stack up this early in the season.
Women’s Doubles
This category has been split into multiple bands, with only one crew making it into Band 1, a composite of Nottingham RC and Leeds University. Within this crew is Ursie Fleming. Given her experience of winning the aspirational quads category at Henley Women’s Regatta this year with the Performance Development Academy, we can expect a fast time to be put down by this double. As it is a composite, it is safe to assume that this is another Performance Development double hoping to test their speed.
In Band 2 of this category, there are two Leicester doubles, one listed under Gough, the other under Barker. Both of these doubles seem like they could be promising, with Eleanor Gough coming into senior racing, having raced junior singles for much of last year. At Bedford Spring Head earlier this year, she raced a double, which came 63rd overall with a time of 7:31, putting her near the top of her band in second place. Gough also picked up the win in the aspirational double sculls at Henley Women’s Regatta with Lizzie Webster.
This category has many accomplished scullers, so it will be interesting to see who comes out on top. I would predict Ursie Fleming’s crew to take the win in this category, although it could be a close call.
Women’s Singles
Much like the doubles, there is only one entry that has made it into Band 1, Poppy Baker, racing for Nottingham RC. She was in the U23 women’s quad, which picked up gold at the U23 World Rowing Championships in Poznan earlier this year. As a decorated sculler, she is sure to put down a fast time in this head race.
Band 2 in this category has more entries, including Lizzie Webster, from Leicester, who is also racing a double in Division 2. Having won the aspirational double sculls category at Henley Women’s Regatta this year, she can come into this head race confident in her sculling ability. However, other scullers such as Amy Hallet from Dart Totnes will be looking to place down some good times as well. Hallet was knocked out on the Friday of Henley Women’s Regatta in the lightweight singles event, so may be looking for a way to prove herself going into head season.
The result of the women’s singles seems fairly certain that Poppy Baker will get the win with her experience in sculling. This does not mean that the results for second or third place will not be close and exciting to monitor.
Women’s Coxless Fours
The women’s fours have many clubs that have raced at big regattas in the summer season. Derby RC are in Band 1 in this category; they have a history of success in this event, reaching the quarterfinals of Henley Women’s Regatta, and placing sixth in the B-final at Metropolitan Regatta. Other clubs will be looking to challenge them, with two having raced each other at the British Rowing Championships. Nottingham RC and York City were both in the final of the coxless fours, with Nottingham picking up third and York City behind them in fourth. These two crews will be hoping to battle it out after their close results from the British Rowing Championships. Nottingham University also has an entry for this category, and they could be a force to be reckoned with. They came in fourth in the B-final at BUCS this year, so could be on to post a good time at this head race.
I predict that Derby RC will win in this category. While Nottingham University may have a good programme with strong results in this category, new seasons are difficult for university programmes, and often yield worse results than when they are more established in the summer season. The results from York City and Nottingham RC will also be good to watch after their results from the British Rowing Championships.
Women’s Quads
Loughborough Students will be racing a quad, having placed second in the Band 1 quadruple sculls at Head of the Soar. They are the only entrants in Band 1 quads, and can look forward to a good run in this event. Other entrants include Nottingham Trent University. Nottingham Trent had a fairly successful beginner quad at BUCS Regatta this year, winning the C final, so could be looking for more race experience at this event. This suggests that Loughborough Students will come away with the win in this category. However, with students coming up from beginner to senior, we could be surprised by Nottingham Trent.
Predictions
Overall, this event seems to have a range of rowers competing over the varied courses. Some exciting results can be expected, particularly from the women’s double sculls, where we can see many accomplished scullers wishing to place down good times this early in the season. Other categories may seem more clear-cut, such as the women’s single sculls, which will most likely see a win from Poppy Baker. This being said, results are never guaranteed, especially this early in the season.
