Big boat season is well and truly back! Kicking off the 2026 racing calendar is Quintin Head, where coxes will battle it out along the infamous Tideway course. This event is truly not one to miss as we descend rapidly into head race territory and towards the 100th Anniversary of the Head of the River Race. The open championship eights is the premier event in division two and will draw much interest as crews start to get a lay of the land and size up the competition.
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes needs absolutely no introduction. With three crews racing in this Championship event (bow 51, 55, 58), Brookes looks likely to secure strong results on Sunday. Looking back on last year, those in maroon finished the head season expertly, claiming second place overall at Head of the River Race, with two crews in the top five. Looking to revive confidence of a loyal fan base following a regatta season unfortunately stained by a string of possibly unexpected losses at Henley Royal Regatta – bowing out of the final in both The Temple Challenge Cup for student eights and The Visitors Challenge Cup for intermediate coxless fours – Brookes will be looking to build on the momentum gained towards the end of 2025.
This momentum came mainly in the form of two crews at Fours Head: a GB Development Team composite that placed first in the championship coxed four, and a championship coxless four that finished third in its category. These results were backed up by the rest of the squad’s dominant display on home water at Wallingford Head, where they won both the open and U23 eights. With an entirely new coaching unit, all eyes will be on Brookes this weekend to see how they shape up as we push on towards the pinnacle of the head season.
Thames Rowing Club
The first of multiple Tideway-based crews in this category, Thames will be hungry to perform well and cement its position as a top contender heading into 2026. In this event last year, Thames placed seventh in the championship eights and second in the senior eights, finishing ninth and sixth, respectively, overall on time. This year, with two crews (bow 57 and 60) entered into championship, they will be aiming to match, if not better, these results. The Head of the River Race soon after was a better showing with a third-place finish, winning both the Club Pennant and Vernon Trophy, and a second crew in the top ten. The strength and depth of the squad was ultimately confirmed at Henley Royal Regatta with a win in The Britannia Challenge Cup for club coxed fours, making the final of The Thames Challenge Cup for club eights, advancing two boats to the semi-finals of The Wyfold Challenge Cup for club coxless fours, and racing the quarter-finals in The Ladies Challenge Plate for intermediate eights, with a composite Thames and Leander crew also in the semi-final.
So far this season, Thames have triumphed at Fours Head, placing first and fourth in the club coxless four, third in both the championship and club coxed fours, and seventh and tenth in the championship coxless four. All crews finishing in the top ten of their respective events is an incredible feat, yet again showing promise for what is to come. I expect to see another Thames masterclass this weekend as they gear up to attack HORR and make a big statement heading into Regatta Season.
Marlow Rowing Club
Marlow have often built their momentum quietly in the shadows of the larger Tideway-based clubs, resulting in their successes being even sweeter. Their entry of one crew (bow 53) into the championship event this year hopes to improve on their sixth-place finish in this same category last year. This performance was followed up by 17th at the Head of the River Race, resulting in winning the Page Trophy, and a string of admirable Henley Royal Regatta performances, notably making the final for The Prince of Wales Challenge Cup for intermediate quadruple sculls, and the semi-finals of The Britannia Challenge Cup.
This season has started solidly with seventh in championship coxless quads and 17th in club coxless quads at Fours Head, and disqualifications in the championship and club coxed fours. A big win for Marlow this weekend would be closing the 33-second gap between themselves and Brookes at Wallingford Head and really showing off what the squad has to offer this season.
St Paul’s School
St Paul’s (bow 52), yet again gracing us with their presence in the championship category, almost guarantees fireworks. Their second-place performance last year could cause major upset if replicated. Following a tumultuous prior season, their Henley Royal Regatta campaign saw their first eight devastatingly beaten by eventual winners Shiplake in the semifinal of The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup.
This loss is fuelling an impressive start to the season, achieving second in both the senior academic coxed four and coxless quad at The Fours Head, continuing with second in the J18 Band One eights at Wallingford, and second and third in the U23 Band One eights. With all crews being within one minute of Brookes, they will surely be looking to capitalise on momentum and use this fast pace to chase them down on Saturday.
University of London
The University of London, otherwise known as UL, have one crew (bow 54) entered into this championship event. Finishing fourth last year and 11th at HORR with the Thames Valley Trophy in tow, UL had an extremely successful season, topped off by a dominant display from their coxed four at Henley Royal Regatta. Winning the championship coxed four events at The Metropolitan Regatta and Marlow Regatta, and finally grasping The Prince Albert Challenge Cup shows the true power of the determination fostered in this squad. Even their Prince Albert ‘B’ crew beat out many other ‘A’ crews for a qualification spot, and they had a competitive Temple Challenge Cup campaign alongside. This alone tells us that UL will enter this season with a single-minded focus on repeating that success.
So far, their showing at Fours Head confirms the depth of crews again, as we can expect to see this season, placing third in the senior academic coxed four, just behind St Paul’s; fourth in both the senior academic coxless four and the championship quad; and finally eighth in the championship coxless four. This across-the-board performance should provide much-needed confidence as we enter the run-up to HORR.
Imperial College
Another university club joining this fight is Imperial (bow 59). Winning the senior category at Quintin last year and placing fifth overall on time, Imperial will almost certainly be aiming to bring the fight to UL. Last season then continued well, with positions of 23rd, 47th, and 79th achieved at the Head of the River Race, and their Temple Challenge Cup Eight bowing out in the first round.
This season, they have shown good form at Fours Head, having won the senior academic coxless four and placed a second crew fifth in both the senior academic coxless four and the senior academic coxed fours. These results suggest another strong performance could very much be on the cards for Imperial on Saturday as we start to see the first real indications of pace.
Vesta Rowing Club
Neighbours with Thames, Vesta are fielding one crew (bow 56) in this championship event this weekend. After recent seat racing and under the leadership of a new head coach this season, the men’s squad will be looking to start as they mean to go on. Last year in the senior category, Vesta placed third, claiming tenth overall on time, followed by 27th at the Head of the River Race, with three crews in the top 100, which they will be aiming to beat this year. Henley Royal Regatta saw all three of their Thames Challenge Cup eights, unfortunately, knocked out in the first round of racing, with their Wyfold Challenge Cup entry facing the same fate just one round later.
The sheer number of competitive crews Vesta continually boats is no mean feat, seen again this season at Fours Head with 12 men’s entries alone. Standout performances included sixth in the club coxed four and eighth in the club coxless four. I will be watching Vesta closely this weekend, hoping they can push on and rise to the occasion in this highly competitive championship event.
Prediction
The powerhouse that is Brookes will be itching to set a good tone for the rest of the season, and with three crews entered, I struggle to see an outcome that isn’t them winning. The Thames contingent of two crews could very well be matched eights and, as a result, may be vulnerable to the likes of Brookes, Marlow and St Paul’s. I am also yet to write off the academic entries, with UL my favourite out of the two to place in the top five in what promises to be one of the top races to watch on Saturday.
