Leander Club returned to the Tideway this weekend for Hammersmith Head, following on from previous week’s Boat Race fixtures between Oxford University Boat Club and Cambridge University Boat Club.
With the domestic head season gathering momentum, the race provided an important early benchmark as preparations continue toward the Women’s Head of the River Race (WeHORR) and the Head of the River Race (HORR).
Women’s Squad – Strength in Depth
Leander fielded two women’s Championship eights, delivering a commanding performance to take 2nd and 4th places overall.
The leading crew showed composure and authority from the first strokes, establishing rhythm early and building pressure through the middle of the course. Clean bladework and disciplined pacing allowed them to maintain speed through the technical sections of the Tideway, handling the good tideway conditions with confidence. It was an assured performance that reflects the quality of preparation underway as WeHORR approaches.
Leander’s second eight also produced a highly competitive row. With combinations continuing to evolve, the crew demonstrated encouraging cohesion and resilience across the course. The result underlined the depth within the women’s squad and the internal competition driving standards forward.
Men’s Eight – The “Cuppies” Step Up
The men’s eight was largely composed of Leander’s gap year athletes — the “Cuppies” — many of whom were racing their first Tideway head in pink.
Fresh from the intensity and exposure of the Oxford fixtures, this outing represented a shift back into the domestic head season and the longer-term build toward HORR. The crew embraced the challenge of the Championship Course with maturity, attacking the race while learning valuable lessons in steering, pacing, and sustaining rhythm over the full distance.
For a developing combination, the performance provided exactly what was needed at this stage: race experience, clear feedback, and a platform to build speed over the coming weeks.
With both WeHORR and HORR fast approaching, Hammersmith Head served as a timely marker of progress. Strong results for the women and valuable development for the men reflect a squad moving in the right direction as the Tideway season gathers pace.
W8+ 1
Cox – George Farthing
S- Grace Richards
7- Zoe McCutcheon
6- Lauren Carey
5- Lucy Stratton
4- Phoebe Snowden
3- Daisy Jackson
2- Annica Ford
B- Anna Grace
W8+ 2
Cox- Cameron Moffat
S- Olivia Caesar
7- Abby Topp
6- Jordan Kingston
5- Charlotte Fennel
4- Emily Baker
3- Carys Pryce
2- Zoe McKellar
B- Freya Keto
O8+
Cox- Alex Erb
S- Ben Nathan
7- Will Wreford
6- James Arnold
5- James Purves-Lidelle
4- Isaac Mono
3- George Konig
2- Fin Rhys-Jones
B- Rowan Irving
