With last year’s racing unfortunately cancelled, along with many other head races along the Thames, competitors, I am sure, will be eager and ready to go head-to-head at one of the first small boat head races of the season. With almost 400 entries this year across four divisions, the competition will likely be tough, but I anticipate some standout performances this weekend. With a 3.3km race upstream, we will get one of the first glimpses at how efficiently these athletes have been able to transfer their summer sprints into winter speed. It will be interesting to see who will come out on top.
Senior/Masters Men’s Single Sculls
The Senior Men’s Single event is the race in which one competes to win the highly sought-after Silver Sculls trophy. Itchen Imperial Rowing Club has multiple boats entered into this event, which stands as a testament to their commitment to travelling so far in pursuit of the title. The Masters Men’s category is storming into the weekend with a phenomenal 35 entries across all Masters bands. Simon Mepham of Walton Rowing Club won the Masters E Single category in 2023 and achieved the fastest adjusted time in the Masters Men’s single. He is again back for another fast race and I anticipate this will be an unmissable showdown.
Masters Women’s Single Sculls
2023’s winner, Barbara Khiali from Tideway Scullers School, is taking on this 3.3km upstream race, likely looking for another win, but with so many new faces entered into this category, competition will not be easy. Tara O’Leary from Walton Rowing Club achieved the fastest adjusted time in this event in 2023, so I have high expectations for her and am interested to see how much she can build on her previous performance and how she’ll fare against fresh challengers.
Senior/Masters Women’s Double Sculls
This year sees an excellent array of Masters Women’s doubles entered, highlighting the breadth of talent this head race entices. Weybridge Ladies Amateur Rowing Club has an excellent pedigree when it comes to Senior and Masters rowing, so it’s exciting to see that they have four boats entered into this category.
Senior/Masters Men’s Double Sculls
Walton Rowing Club has an excellent training squad of senior men who make up half of the Senior Men’s Doubles category this year, a clear display of both power and breadth as they aim to secure the top spots this weekend. There appear to be a lot of new names entered into the Masters Men’s Doubles event this year, which always makes for exciting racing, as I am sure the crews entered know very little about what they are up against. It’s all to play for this weekend, so who will rise to the challenge?
Junior Men’s Double Sculls
In 2023, all three top spots in the J16 event were claimed by the power and speed of Walton Rowing Club. With two entries from the club this year, a repeat victory is within reach, but how they will fare against new competition remains to be seen. Barn Elms Boat Club has four crews entered into this category, so there is a real chance they could attempt a clean sweep of the podium. In the J18 event, the striking boat would have to be the Howells/Heffernan crew from Walton Rowing Club. They had a stellar season last season, with their pair having secured them Gold at the British Rowing Championships and proving their spot in the Junior England squad for the Home International Regatta.
Junior 16 Women’s Double Sculls
With a huge 15 entries from numerous local clubs, this category is sure to be highly competitive. With Barn Elms securing the win in this category in 2023, as well as being the fastest Junior Women’s double overall, their four doubles entered into this category this year will be looking to defend their dominance.
Junior Men’s Single Sculls
The junior men’s singles category has always been highly competitive in this head race, especially with so many exceptional junior rowing programs in the local area. With some strong racers from the previous winners, Walton Rowing Club, along with a formidable contingent from Kingston Rowing Club, competition is looking like it is going to be close. The J16 Men’s Single category is also one of the largest entries, showing the enthusiasm of these upcoming junior men. Molesey Boat Club have a striking number of boats entered into this category, and with such a well-formulated junior training programme, these boys will be aiming for some of the fastest times of the day.
Junior Women’s Single Sculls
St George’s College Boat Club not only secured the fastest time in this event in 2023, and won the Bonnie Bird Cup thanks to their J17 sculler, but also seems to have a strong presence across all junior women’s singles categories, which I would say puts them in a top position to score some fast times this weekend. Similarly, Molesey Boat Club and Barn Elms Boat Club have a fantastic number of girls entered into these categories. This level of competition is sure to produce some blistering performances.
