Henley Rowing Club’s Junior and Senior Women’s squads continued their tremendous success with another three wins at the major Head races.
In the 75th Women’s Head of the River race on Saturday, racing with 300 other crews and nearly 2700 competitors, the Henley women took top honours in both the Novice and Masters C events, with a further third place for the Junior Women’s eight.
Henley seniors Bethan Thomas and Amanda Hynes rowed in a Henley, Bristol City, Marlow and Reading Rowing Club composite crew to take the Masters eights title along the course from Mortlake to Putney.
The Henley Novice crew of Maddie Orr, Ellie Thompson, Lauren Edwards, Hattie Orr, Sophie Reynolds, Anna Roe, Eve Poulter, Ruby Brown and cox Lottie Hughes won their event in a time of 21 minutes and 31 seconds against 70 other crews, enabling Henley to retain the Women’s Head Novice title for the second year in succession.
In other events, the Junior Eight of Lauren Kay, Lily Stimpson, Florence Wiggins, Iona McNab, Clare Pearson, Georgia Edwards, Ella Morgan, Emma Lister, and cox Rebecca Lister came a commendable third place in a field of 16 boats in a time of 21 minutes and 36 seconds. The Women’s IM3 crew of Lizzie Williams, Victoria Carver, Grace Johnson, Rachael Alder, Alice Jones, Katy Claridge, Cat Kay, Alicia Redman and cox Hannah Gutteridge came a highly ranked eighth against over 100 crews in a time of 22 minutes and 9 seconds.
On Monday, the junior women’s squad tallied a win, two second places and a fourth place at the School’s Head of the River race.
The WJ15 eight of Georgina Robinson Ranger, Tilly Lock, Charlotte Moss, Mary Wright, Lottie Orr, Issy Jonsson, Eve Poulter, Ruby Brown and cox Freya Reid rowed an outstanding race to win in a time of 20 minutes and 25 seconds ahead of 18 other crews, and in a time ahead of many of the older WJ16 and Championship eight crews.
The WJ16 quad of Maisie Turner, Alicia Redman, Katy Claridge and Anna Row fought through a competitive field of nine boats to come second to the Tideway’s home crew from Thames Rowing Club in a time of 21 minutes and 28 seconds.
The Junior Women’s coxed four event was won by Reading Rowing Club with the Henley girls crew of Maddie Orr, Ellie Thompson, Lauren Edwards and Hattie Orr coming a close second.
The Henley Junior Women’s Championship eight crew, which had rowed two days before on the same course at the Women’s Head of the River, rowed to a commendable fourth place against 22 other top girls crews from around the UK.
With the Junior Sculling Head on Tuesday acting as the finale to the Head racing season, the Henley Senior and Junior Women’s squads will go into the start of summer regatta season in May with high hopes for a repeat of last seasons dominance at the major events.
