Oxford Brookes break Course Record at Head

Last Saturday saw the last Winter Head race of the season on the Tideway, the Head of the River Race, held between Mortlake and Putney. Brookes fielded eight VIIIs for the first time in history.

The Brookes 1st VIII was made up of members of the British National team, the majority of whom became Senior World Champions last season. This crew was chased fiercely by an equally talented Leander crew, in a match up that could barely be separated the whole way down the track in a race of the highest calibre. Conditions were not of the fastest nature, however, the reason why both finished significantly inside the previous record time was purely the standard of athletes in both crews. The Head, is, and will always be considered showcase event of the winter season and hopefully this quality of racing is something that the world of rowing will be treated too for years to come.

Brookes A came out on top by just two seconds, in a new course record that had previously lasted since 1987, of 16.28.4. The highest of kudos to both crews.

Overall, the results for the Brookes contingent was by far the most successful in its history. Brookes B, came in 3rd place just 10 seconds behind the winning crew. The 3rd VIII, placed 4th, the highest this crew has ever ranked. Three VIIIs in the top 4

Brookes D, came away as the Fastest University crew. This is the 6th time in a row that Brookes has held the Bernard Churchill Trophy, but the first time this has been claimed by the Brookes 4th VIII. This crew placed 7th overall, the highest ever in it’s history and only the second time any club’s 4th VIII has come in the Top 10 since WWII. A great result, for a very young crew who now look forward to the racing coming up in the spring.

More fantastic results were seen through the rest of the team. All crews placed higher than ever before and moved up from their starting positions.
Brookes E – 11th
Brookes F – 18th
Brookes G – 23rd
Brookes H – 31st

This was the last race before Brookes head to San Diego at the end of March, with the rest of the squad training for GB Final Trials and BUCS Regatta.

📸 Courtesy of AllMarkOne – large thanks for their coverage of the Winter Season