The Fours Head of the River took place last Saturday and with wins across the board, Leander Club proved their strength again.
Leander had nine crews competing in open events as well as two in the junior men’s category, racing from Chiswick Bridge to Putney pier, over the famous Championship Course
This event is a special one for Leander Club and its athletes as it is a rare opportunity for us to mix our GB senior rowers who mostly train at Caversham Lake with our current club based athletes.
The weather was kind on the day providing light winds and sunshine for the 490 crews racing.
Captain John Collins was joined by Seb Devereux, Tobias Shroder and reigning M4x World silver medallist George Bourne. The crew had a good race and took the win producing the fastest time of the day but were pushed closely by Leander Club’s second men’s quad of Rory Harris, Sam Meijer, Oliver Costley and Miles Devereux, who narrowly missed out on the win by only one second.
The W4x was stroked by world bronze medallist Lola Anderson with Rebecca Wilde, Imogen Magner and Hannah Scott (who placed 5th in the W1x at the World Championships). This crew produced a great race and took the win over strong competition which included a full crew of GB team athletes racing under the colours of Tideways Scullers and in doing so set a new course record of 18:56.8.
In the M4- event Leander again were dominant, coming first and second in this category and setting a new course record of 17:43.2. The winning crew consisted of World Champions from the Mens 8+ Tom Ford and James Rudkin. Olympic Bronze medallist, Jacob Dawson who returns after injury sat in the the stroke seat with James Robson from our Development squad in the 3 seat.
Leander’s second crew was Felix Drinkall, Lenny Jenkins, Ryan Todhunter and current World Champion in the M4- Will Stewart..
The W4- of Flo Donald, Annie Campbell-Orde, Issy Hawes and Amelia Standing didn’t achieve a course record but did manage to win their event in style with a 30 second margin over second place Thames RC.
The M4+ was always going to be a big ask with our Leander crew of World Champions Sholto Carnegie and Charlie Elwes form the GB M8+ joined by World bronze medallist in the M2- Tom George and Olly Wynne-Griffith and coxed by Olympic bronze medallist Henry Fieldman.
They would have to overturn a full crew of World Champions from Oxford Brookes. The Leander men did not disapoint and raced well to take home not only the victory but also a new course record of 18:07.8.
Next up was the turn of the W4+ stroked by Emily Ford and backed up by Lauren Irwin, Chloe Brew, Rebecca Edwards coxed by Morgan Baynham-Williams. Setting up a strong rhythm from the start, they took the win in their event by nine seconds and set a new course record of 19:53.7.
Finally, our Junior boys quad of Nat Gauden, Byron Richards, Guy Hutchins and Freddy Foxwell raced superbly to win their event and post a new course record of 18:25.8. This group showed its strength in depth with their second crew producing a promising fourth place.
What a fantastic day it was for Leander Club, winning every Open event for both men and women and the Junior boys quad too. We look forward to the Fours Head prize giving evening where the seven winning crews and coaches can attend.
We would like to thank all the organisers and volunteers of The Fours Head for putting on an excellent event and to Fulham Reach Boat Club for their hospitality allowing Leander to boat from them.
