This Sunday, the Wingfield Sculls will put Britain’s top women single scullers to the test over the challenging Tideway course. Seven athletes will take to the water, each hoping to etch their name onto the coveted Silver Sculls trophy. Let’s take a closer look at the competition.
Imogen Grant – Upper Thames Rowing Club
Fresh from her 2025 World Rowing Championships campaign as the women’s reserve — and with an Olympic gold medal from Paris 2024 to her name — Imogen Grant needs little introduction. Returning to defend her Wingfield Sculls title for a fourth consecutive year, she will this time be racing under the colours of Upper Thames. Balancing life as a doctor alongside elite-level training, Grant continues to demonstrate remarkable commitment both on and off the water. With her extensive Tideway experience and renowned sculling prowess, she remains a favourite to add yet another Wingfield crown to her impressive résumé.
Finnola Stratton – Reading University Boat Club
Reading University has been a dominant force in women’s university sculling in recent years, and it’s safe to say Finnola Stratton has been at the heart of that success. She firmly established herself as one of the top university scullers in the country last season, completing the remarkable ‘triple’ at BUCS Regatta by winning all championship sculling events. Her momentum continued with victory in the championship quad at Henley Women’s Regatta, followed by a gold medal at the U23 World Rowing Championships in the women’s quad. With her previous experience racing this event in 2024 and her impressive accolade of results from last season, Stratton returns to the Tideway as one of the leading contenders for the title.
Isabel Lancaster – Reading University Boat Club
Another product of this strong Reading programme is Isabel Lancaster, the youngest of those competing this weekend. Lancaster is a double Henley Women’s regatta champion in both the aspirational lightweight single in 2024 and the championship double in 2025. She is no stranger to single scull racing, and I am excited to see how she fares this weekend.
Aoife Keane – Molesey Boat Club
A new face in this year’s Wingfield Sculls is Aoife Keane. After battling with injury at the start of last season, she finished off last year by competing for England in the women’s single sculls, where she only narrowly missed out on victory to tough competition. Keane is also a familiar name in sweep, having raced in The Wargrave Challenge Cup ‘B’ boat at Henley Royal Regatta. Although she hasn’t featured often on the domestic scene in her single, she has demonstrated impressive speed whenever she does, winning the club single at the 2024 British Rowing Club Championships. I have no doubt she will put up a good fight this weekend.
Hazel Wake – City of Oxford Rowing Club
Having recently competed at the European University Championships in Poland just weeks ago, Hazel Wake brings plenty of single scull racing experience to this year’s Wingfield Sculls. She has emerged as one of the athletes to watch in domestic lightweight women’s rowing, taking victory in the championship lightweight single at BUCS Regatta and racing at the Head Of The Charles just last weekend, placing an impressive fifth. With her strong single sculling background, it will be interesting to see how Wake measures up on the Tideway this weekend.
Jennifer Titterington – Newark Rowing Club
A consistent performer on the single sculling scene, Jennifer Titterington has built a strong reputation through her results and experience. She ended the 2024 season strongly, representing England in the single at the Home International Regatta and finishing third in the club single at the British Rowing Club Championships. This year, she qualified for The Stonor Challenge Trophy at Henley Royal Regatta, highlighting her well-rounded racing experience. With her proven track record, I hope to see Titterington in the mix this weekend.
Isabelle Maxwell – Vesta Rowing Club
Racing on her home water, Isabelle Maxwell stormed to victory in the senior single at the Vesta Scullers Head of the River, finishing well clear of the rest of the field and placing herself among the contenders in the championship singles. Her previous single race experience includes reaching the B-final on both days at the Metropolitan Regatta and competing for Scotland at the Home International Regatta this year. I expect her to be in the fight for the minor places and to deliver a determined performance.
Prediction
It’s hard to look past the impressive accolades of both Grant and Stratton this weekend. I expect a fierce contest between the two, but with Grant’s prior experience in this event, she may just have the edge for the win. Keane should be close behind, with Wake and Lancaster likely battling it out for the middle positions. All in all, it promises to be a tightly contested race with no shortage of quality on display.
