Schools’ Head of the River 2026 – Girls’ School Junior 16 Eights Preview

Acting as the start of the junior racing season, the Schools’ Head of the River Race provides an early opportunity for crews to assess the results of their winter training, as well as setting the tone for the season ahead. The girls’ Junior 16 eight category will be a competitive field, with several well-established school programmes lining up on the Tideway. For many crews, this race is the first real chance to test themselves against strong competitors over the longer head-race distance.

Haberdashers Monmouth School Rowing Club

One of the standout programmes in the field comes from Haberdashers Monmouth School Rowing Club, a club with a strong junior sweep programme. Monmouth has consistently produced high-performing crews across multiple age groups and has a strong reputation at major national competitions. At Wycliffe Big Head this year, their Junior 16 eight placed second, a step on from their 12th place finish at National Schools’ Regatta last year. With this depth and experience behind them, their Junior 16 eight will be looking to continue that tradition and deliver a strong performance on the Tideway.

St Mary’s School Cambridge Boat Club

Another crew to watch will be St Mary’s School Cambridge Boat Club, whose programme has developed a strong reputation in girls’ rowing over recent seasons. Regularly appearing at national regattas and head races, St Mary’s crews are known for their technical consistency and race composure. Across this season, the Junior 16 squad found success with third place in the quad at Henley Long Distance Sculls, and total domination of the podium in the doubles category at Cambridge Winter Head-to-Head. This Junior 16 eight will be aiming to translate their winter training into a confident performance and position themselves among the leading contenders in this category.

Kingston Grammar School Boat Club

Also entering the field is Kingston Grammar School Boat Club, a programme that has increasingly built momentum in recent years. With access to excellent facilities on the Thames and consistent coaching, Kingston Grammar has produced increasingly competitive junior crews, including a fleet of girls’ coxed fours which won National Schools’ Regatta in every eligible age category last year. Their location on the Thames should give them the upper hand when dealing with the tricky conditions on the Tideway. Their Junior 16 eight will be looking to use this race as an opportunity to make a strong early statement and establish themselves as serious challengers as the season unfolds.

Honourable Mentions

Honourable mentions must also go to Putney High School Boat Club, whose Tideway location provides familiarity with the course and its often-challenging conditions. Likewise, Godolphin & Latymer School Boat Club deserve recognition, having consistently fielded competitive crews in school events and demonstrating strong performances throughout recent seasons.

Prediction

With a competitive line-up and relatively small margins likely between crews, predicting the outcome is far from straightforward. However, based on recent programme strength and historical success, Haberdashers Monmouth School Rowing Club seem well-placed to challenge for the top position, with St Mary’s School Cambridge likely to provide close competition.