Upper Thames Head Report

The first race of the season for most athletes was Upper Thames Head this weekend, where five men’s crews and four women’s crews raced in the afternoon division. The race provided a good opportunity for the crews to gain race experience in the absence of the British Rowing Championships, which are normally held at the end of October.

The men posted a 1-2-3 with the three fastest times of the day. With the 1st VIII rested following the Head of the Charles Regatta the previous weekend, the 2nd VIII took the honours, 21 seconds ahead of the next fastest club.

The women’s 1st VIII posted the 16th fastest time of the day, impressively beating a number of men’s crews in the process. This was incoming women’s coach Richard Chambers’ first race in charge of the women, in what was a very impressive result all round. The first two eights won Band 1 and Band 2 respectively, and also won Band 2 4+ by 24 seconds.

The squad next heads to Boston for the GB Rowing 1st Assessment, where 54 athletes will be looking to impress selectors for the first time this season.

📸 All photos courtesy of AllMarkOne

Full results can be found below:

Open Eights (Band 1):
1 Brookes A 9:03.7
2 Brookes B 9:10.6
3 Brookes C 9:23.9

Women’s Eights (Band 1):
1 Brookes A 10:23.3

Men’s Eights (Band 2)
1 Brookes D 9:41.4
2 Brookes E 10:27.5

Women’s Eights (Band 2):
1 Brookes A 10:50
2 Brookes B 11:17.5

Women’s Coxed Fours (Band 2):
1 Brookes 13:19.5