The Reading Small Boats Head returns for 2025 this weekend, with 500 crews set to take on the 3500m course. Following the event’s cancellation last year, and the lack of Pairs Head last weekend, crews and coaches alike will be itching to see who is ahead at the start of the season. From quads down to singles, Reading provides a relatively simple course to show off some serious speed and race tactics down the Thames, while it is still non-tidal.
Women’s Intermediate Quads
The women’s intermediate quad entries once again show off the local Reading University Boat Club, who are continuing to dominate the sculling world. After yet another stellar season for the university, eyes will be on them to set the standard for this event. Challenged by only one club, Broxbourne Rowing Club, who will most definitely feel the wrath of the clams.
Women’s Singles
Spread between divisions two and three, the Junior 16 and Junior 17 sculls are highly popular this year, with 12 and 21 entries respectively. Maidenhead Rowing Club’s juniors made ripples throughout last season. Steel, having rowed in The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup ‘B’ crew, may be out to bump up a few seats into the ‘A’ crew for the season. In Band 2, Reading Rowing Club are out in full force for their home race – with Dallas from the King’s School Canterbury Boat Club being their only unknown. This force extends into the J16 band three category, where the club accounts for half of the entries.
Maidenhead and Reading are the two common names of the Women’s senior singles categories. Almost full of these two clubs’ entries, the Holgate name is prevalent, especially within the Intermediate category, where an internal competition has occurred. As both Holgates led the senior women through their captaincy roles last season, they will be out to show who’s boss from the start line. Reading RC seems to have increased the number of seniors they have sculling, with 4 entries, which will increase their chances of doing well.
Women’s Doubles
Some attention must be given to those entered in the Junior 18 doubles. With three bands, this category is stacked with potential talent for the upcoming season. Marlow Rowing Club have five doubles entered, with Sir William Perkins School Boat Club amongst them. These two clubs will have met each other many a time before, and with Perkins being knocked out in the early rounds of Henley 2024, they’ll be looking to match the speed of Marlow, who made it through to face the eventual winners in the final. London locals Putney High School Boat Club and Emanuel School Boat Club round out band two, making the trip downriver to face Marlow and one another. Emanuel are also entered into Band three, where the win could be anyone’s to grab, but with Reading’s knowledge of the river, they will no doubt be the ones to watch.
There’s a lot to look out for on Saturday, with potential for upset across the board. These crews have only got 3500m to put down all they have got. It is almost impossible to guess what might happen, but with a downstream course and low winds forecast, the times are bound to be quick.
