‘Pairs Head’, contrary to its name, does in fact facilitate roughly half of its categories to those who decide two oars are the superior mode. The head season on the Tideway has already swung into a start with Scullers Head finally taking place after two long years of silence. Many of the same athletes will be taking on a similar course for the second time in a span of seven days (hopefully slightly faster than in their singles). Even those who weren’t caught in the swell of scullers battling their way down this tidal course last weekend will be sure to want to prove themselves. With 31 entries to this category, there is sure to be a fight for those top spots, giving us a glimpse of what schoolgirl sculling will have to offer in the coming year.
Lawrence-Preston/Anderson (Wycliffe College Boat Club)
Both these girls had an incredibly successful 2024/5 season, giving them pretty stellar blocks to build on for this coming year. Lawrence-Preston raced at the U19 World Rowing Championships last summer in the GB quad, earning a bronze medal (the margin between them and silver being one of the smallest ever seen at a Junior World Rowing Championships). On top of this, they both gained the title of Diamond Jubilee winners at Henley Royal Regatta last season, Cassie Anderson as bow of the boat, and Emily Lawrence-Preston at two. They both embody the Wycliffe style, which means that sculling in the rougher water of the Thames may be difficult, given they aren’t quite as accustomed to its conditions. We saw this at the National Schools’ Regatta last season, where these two girls missed out on gold due to some very tricky conditions. We will have to wait and see what the weather has in store for us and if this might scupper a Wycliffe victory.
Cohalan/Kerbiriou (Tideway Scullers School)
Similar to the duo from Wycliffe, both these girls have had a taste of international silverware. Kate Cohalan raced last summer in the U19 quad at Coupe de la Jeunesse securing herself two gold medals and Jess Kerbiriou raced as the U19 single at the same event the previous year. These girls had an impeccable run at the National Schools’ Regatta where they won the girls’ Championship quad by clear water. Later in the season they both went on to race Henley Royal Regatta with a slightly different crew and were knocked out by eventual winners ‘Wycliffe’ in the semi-finals. They placed third and fourth respectively at Scullers Head last week. However I suspect they were slightly disappointed with this result and will be out for an improvement this weekend. Rhona MacCallum’s girls know what they’re doing when it comes to a Tideway head race and I suspect that with the right line they will be ones to keep an eye on. Scullers aren’t one to back away from a good fight.
Pinsent/Kennedy (Marlow Rowing Club)
Marlow Rowing Club had an amazing season last year, and I’m sure they will be keen to keep it that way. Their junior women’s squad is well known in the leagues of top sculling programmes, similar to Scullers and Wycliffe. Neither of these girls lack international success, Lauren Kennedy is the second member in this preview to have been part of the U19 quad at the World Rowing Championships last summer. At the same time, Eve Pinsent diverged to sweep to become a world champion in the U19 women’s eight. Both girls raced in the quad last season making a Henley Royal Regatta final and a bronze medal at the National Schools’ Regatta showing their strength in the larger boat categories. Will this be carried into small boats is the question? I have no doubt this Marlow double will be out to place themselves amongst the top members of schoolgirl sculling. However, it won’t be an easy fight.
Honourable Mentions
This year, the Junior 18 doubles category can be described in one word: ‘stacked.’ There are sure to be some very close margins between the top few, even given how long the course is. The double of Nicholas/Warren from Sir William Perkins will definitely be feisty, but I don’t think they will come out in the top three. Similarly, the second Wycliffe double of Al-Karmi and O’Riley is sure to be fast as well.
Depending on the day, any of the three could take the win. Steering will be a challenge for the less local of the bunch, so that will give the Scullers crew a slight advantage. But the line can be learnt… Here are my predictions:
- Cohalan/Kerbiriou
- Lawrence-Preston/Anderson
- Pinsent/Kennedy
