North of England Head of the River Race 2022 – Manchester University Boat Club

Wedged between the flagship tideway events in the rowing calendar of WEHoRR and HoRR, MUBC’s local head of the river found itself unusually forgotten about as a focal race in the North Western head season. For MUBC’s women’s squad, NoEHoRR was an opportunity to celebrate the culmination of head season after the incredible experience on the tideway the week prior, whereas for the men’s squad the event became a stepping stone for final technical adjustments before their event on the tideway the following week. A 5 km course on the river Dee became became a measure of the squads’ training progression as head season concluded.

Women’s Squad

For the first time in the season, novice and senior rowers combined to form two mixed eights to begin the formation of a single women’s squad for upcoming regatta events. Despite the relatively brief time both crews had to train together, incredible performances were displayed, with one boat going onto win their category. The confidence displayed by the novices assured the seniors of an exciting future integration into a unitary squad.

Men’s Squad

The two eights entered for the men represented a novice boat comprised of athletes who were unable to compete at HoRR, and the senior men’s eight who were in the depths of their tideway campaign. Both crews were highly satisfied with their personal performance. The senior men asserted their confidence over a sustained piece with the final 1 km identified as a particular period increased technical focus going into the next race. The novices proved that their fitness developed over the past months was ready to be propelled into regatta season.