The weather outside was indeed frightful, but Fours Head Chairman Richard Phelps was delighted to welcome lots of members of the rowing community at the Virtual Fours Head this morning.
During the warmup, Martin Cross interviewed Olympic Champion James Rudkin, Rio 2016 Olympic silver medalist Jess Eddie, and Men’s and Women’s Boat Race-winning cox Jasper Parish. James is currently the holder of the Fours Head record for Open Coxless Fours – set in 2022, the last time the race ran – and shared how he did that steering from the two seat, “because no one else wanted to steer”. Respect! Jess, who has raced the Fours Head ” about 10 times”, and is now Race Director for the Women’s Eights Head of the River Race, sympathised with the Committee about the challenges of organising head races on the Tideway in winter. Jasper, who learned to cox on the Tideway at St Paul’s School, famously played a significant role in Cambridge’s victory in the 2023 Men’s Boat Race, when he steered his crew into the shelter of the Fulham Wall to get out of rough water that was similar to today’s.
Everyone, including Jess, then set their ergos for 17’21” – the Fours Head record – and Jasper ‘coxed’ us down the course. Well done to all those who participated – he pushed us hard! The Chairman revealed that he was pleased that his split was sub 2.00′ but left it at that.
And the winners are…
The winners of the two prizes for clubs with the most participants today are Thames Tradesmen’s RC (Thames-based) and Agecroft RC (non-Thames-based). Agecroft had every machine in the club being used in their impressive gym, and were the larges club overall. Both clubs will soon be receiving a special, commemorative Fours Head blade and two crates of Fullers London Pride.
Special mentions also go to Medway Towns RC, who had 10 members participating in their cub gym as well as 1980 Olympian Liz on her ergo at home; and the only overseas participant, Emma from Belvoir RC.
Thanks for joining in, and we look forward to seeing many more people on the water in fours on 15 November 2025!
The Fours Head 