After Wallingford Long Distance Sculls and other local races, this is one of the first big races in the head racing season. With the standard of rowing increasing from the Junior 15 category up to Junior 16, the crews will be eager to show off their improved skill and technique to try to win this event in an exciting race. Which crew can navigate the large bend of the course effectively and complete the race the fastest?
Marlow Rowing Club
As a club well known for their scullers’ abilities, Marlow’s two crews have a good opportunity to showcase their skill and perform their best in Pairs Head of the River. At the Junior Sculling Regatta 2025, the two Marlow doubles joined together to race in a coxed quad to reach an impressive second in the A-final, as well as third in the A-final at National Schools’ Regatta. After a successful season last year, the coxed quad has split for this race to battle against each other to find out who is the fastest from their boat – Grimsditch and Ohanlon, or Smith and Hobbs. Due to their experience in high-stakes events, these four have proven they have the skills to perform well under pressure and row fast. I believe that both doubles have the experience and speed to push to the finish in the fastest time: the only factor that may determine which half of the quad is faster is who has the better steering and can cope best without a cox.
Tideway Scullers School
As a rowing club used to difficult river conditions and large corners, the course at Pairs Head of the River will be among this double’s strengths as they race down the familiar river this weekend. In the WJ15 4x+, Fritze and Peel came sixth in the B-final at the Junior Sculling Regatta 2025, when over 30 crews competed. This proves they are used to the tough, well-known races with pressure on them, while still being able to row well and finish within the top half of the crews. Although half of their quad will not be with them for this race, can they maintain their composure and perform to their best to try to win this race?
Sir William Perkins’s School Rowing Club
Sir William Perkins’s School is another club who have put out multiple crews, lined up to race each other, making racing intense to find out their school’s fastest Junior 16 double. However, in the two doubles of Gurney and Evans, both girls were in their school’s coxed quad which came third in the B-final at the National Schools’ Regatta. As it is a large race for which many crews train for long periods of time, their quad did well to earn this position in the race. Proving they have the speed needed to compete at high levels in large races last season, both doubles should aim high. I am sure they will have something to give in Pairs Head of the River.
City of Cambridge Rowing Club
Racing needs composure even in difficult conditions. At the Junior Sculling Regatta, Margot came second in the WJ15 1x time trial, then came first in the final. This is an impressive achievement due to the challenge of having to stroke and steer on her own while being only a Junior 15 athlete. Now paired up with teammate Tabaczynska and the roles shared, this double can add to previous talent and show off their skill in a longer race focused on endurance and a strong mental mindset. Knowing how to perform well in open conditions and respond to anything that may happen will benefit this double greatly.
Putney High School Boat Club
A strong rowing school that trains crews to win, the two Putney High School doubles have won recent races, such as Reading Amateur Regatta and Hammersmith Regatta, in coxed fours and eights. With practice on the Tideway and recent wins, the crew’s wide range of skills, from speed and strength to training on their unpredictable home river, will lend them an advantage. If the transfer from sweeping to sculling again has been practised enough, the Guccione/Mularz double in particular will have a good chance at rowing well through this course and achieving a winning time.
Predictions
Overall, I believe that both Marlow Rowing Club doubles stand a good chance of winning, and either may just take the win. However, Putney High School and Sir William Perkins’s School are strong contenders and will closely follow behind. All crews have a lot of experience in pressurised racing, so it may be down to the steering of the Tideway to ultimately dictate the final order.
