As winter training begins and the summer regatta circuit comes to a close, so arrives the first major test for crew boats this season: Pairs Head of the River. This demanding 4.5km stretch down one of the UK’s most notorious rivers will be the debut challenge for many newly crowned Junior 16 athletes. With fresh partnerships, unfamiliar boats, and shifting stream conditions, this event will not only test raw speed but cohesion under pressure. Which club will claim the first medals of the winter season?
Marlow Rowing Club
Marlow is one of the most established names in junior sculling, with a proven track record at various national championships and Henley Royal Regatta. Their top double of Buckley and Jones enters as the crew to beat. Buckley in particular carries serious experience: last season, he raced successfully in the single, culminating in competition at GB vs France trials, where he held his own against older, more experienced opposition. Jones provides an equally strong pedigree, and together they are rightly seeded first in their category.
Backing them up is Marlow’s second entry: Richardson and Hampton, two athletes who made up the remainder of their successful summer quad. With experience racing together already, they will not be far behind their clubmates. Internal battles may be just as fierce as external ones once they hit the Tideway.
Walton Rowing Club
Walton are building a reputation for depth and consistency, supported by a vast junior programme that regularly produces competitive athletes, including representation at Home International level last season. This year, however, all eyes are on their Junior 16 doubles. Walton dominated the small boat events at Molesey Regatta with a near-clean sweep across J14-16 in both boys’ and girls’ doubles, proving explosive potential in this format.
Their two entries — Colombi and O’Riordan as the top crew, followed by Mickelburgh and Mills — will be eager to convert summer speed onto winter water. With two crews entered, matching the numbers of both Marlow and Sudbury Rowing Club, Walton’s strength in depth could play a decisive role in this event.
Weybridge Rowing Club
With only one entry, Weybridge place all their hopes in their most established unit, Guzowski and Battelle. This duo raced the majority of last season together, culminating in a narrow miss at the British Championships, where a margin of one tenth of a second denied them progression to the semifinals, forcing them into a close third place in the C-final. Such a near-miss is the kind of result that fuels winter motivation. On familiar water and with renewed determination, they could be the dark horses of the day.
Predictions
While this field is packed with proven athletes, Marlow’s top double of Buckley and Jones stand out as the most likely winners. However, it will be far from a comfortable lead. The seasoned Weybridge pairing of Guzowski and Battelle will not go quietly, particularly with the advantage of local knowledge, and the combined firepower of Walton’s two crews could apply serious pressure down the course.
Nonetheless, I predict Marlow will take the win, with Weybridge’s cohesion pushing them into silver, and Walton’s grit securing a tightly fought bronze.
