Kicking off the 2026 racing season, Quintin Head is the first race of the year for many clubs and a chance to set a marker in preparation for Women’s Eights Head in a few months. The women’s senior category features many second, third and fourth boats of successful programmes and is an opportunity for these clubs to showcase the depth of their squads.
Lea Rowing Club
This is the highest-seeded crew from Lea. They have had a respectable start to the season with a fifth and 11th place finish in the club coxed four at Fours Head. They will be facing off against the lower boats from many strong programmes, some of which they raced earlier in the season at Wallingford Head, where they placed sixth in the Band 2 eights. I think Lea will be a bit off the pace of the top end, but I expect them to be high up among the top boats of smaller clubs.
Vesta Rowing Club
Tideway locals Vesta Rowing Club have entered their second boat into this category. The depth of Vesta’s squad was highlighted at Fours Head, where they entered eight boats. In the club coxed fours event, two of their crews finished in the top ten; however, at the Remenham Challenge, they didn’t quite have the speed to keep up with London and Thames, who are also competing this weekend. I expect to see Vesta placing around the middle of the pack.
Marlow Rowing Club
At Fours Head, Marlow placed fourth and seventh in the club coxless fours and coxed fours, respectively. They also have performed well in eights at Wallingford Head and Upper Thames Autumn Head, where they placed first and fourth, sandwiching the two London boats. It will be interesting to see how the margin between these two crews has changed over the past months.
Thames Rowing Club
The depth of the squad at Thames is always remarkable. Last year, they had five boats in the top 25 at the Women’s Head of the River Race and four crews racing in The Wargrave Challenge Cup alongside one in the Bridge Challenge Plate at Henley Royal Regatta. This year, they’ve had many strong performances, including three crews placing in the top five of championship events at Fours Head. Given the strength and depth of the squad at Thames as well as their familiarity with the course, I’d expect them to be taking the top spot this weekend.
Oxford Brookes University Boat Club
Thames will face a strong challenge from Brookes, another established programme with a history of success. Coming off the back of their Wimbleball camp, Brookes will be well set to perform. At Wallingford Head, all crews performed well, with their Band 2 crew placing third just behind Wallingford rivals Oxford University Boat Club. I’m expecting a strong performance from Brookes, who are likely to take one of the top spots.
Oxford University Boat Club
Before Quintin Head on Sunday, Oxford University are set to compete against London Rowing Club in the first of their fixture series. Their first boat has had an impressive start to the season, taking third place at the Head of the Charles. The crew entered in this category is the second boat, which placed second in the Band 2 eights at Wallingford Head. It will be interesting to see how their performance on Sunday compares to their fixture the day before against London.
London Rowing Club
London are also racing twice this weekend and with a rematch against Oxford on Sunday. The women’s squad at London continues to go from strength to strength. Last year, they had three boats racing in The Wargrave Challenge Cup, and this year at Fours Head, they won the club coxless fours and placed second in club coxed fours. I think they will also be challenging for the top spot.
Predictions
Women’s senior eights event at Quintin will see several first boats racing against the lower boats of larger programmes. I expect to see some of these third and fourth boats at the top of the results. I would predict Thames Rowing Club to take the win, followed by Oxford Brookes, then London or Oxford University to round out the top three.
