World medallists line up for shot at Head of the Charles prizes

Thousands of rowers from around the world will gather in Boston this weekend for the annual festival of rowing that is the Head of the Charles Regatta.

The regatta has received 2 600 entries from 799 clubs representing 25 nations this year, from as far and wide as Australia, the Bahamas, China, Mexico, Uganda, and many European countries.

Entrants in the blue riband events, the men’s and women’s championship single sculls, will compete for cash prizes. There is US$10 000 on offer for the winners, with $5 000 to second-placed scullers and $2 500 for third.

Both events have attracted quality entries. In the women’s championship single sculls, last year’s winner Emily Kallfelz of Cambridge Boat Club will start with bow number 1 – but she will be chased down the course by Olympic champion and 2023 world silver medallist Emma Twigg, representing Hawkes Bay Rowing Club, New Zealand.

As well as Kallfelz, several other top USA scullers are all chancing the single as well. Kristina Wagner and Sophia Vitas, bronze medallists in the women’s double sculls at the 2023 World Rowing Championships; single sculler Kara Kohler; and lightweight women’s double sculls world silver medallist Michelle Sechser are all among the competitors.

The men’s single sculls line-up is equally exciting. Chris Carlson, a member of the USA men’s eight last season, starts with bow number 1 ahead of world bronze medallist Tom Mackintosh of New Zealand. At bow number 4 is lightweight men’s double sculls world and Olympic champion Paul O’Donovan of Skibbereen Rowing Club, Ireland.

The field also includes Eliot Putnam, the US representative in the men’s single sculls at the 2023 World Rowing Championships; and the US double sculls crew of Benjamin Davidson and Sorin Koszyk who go off sixth and seventh.

Carlson and Dean will race again in the men’s championship eights, with the US Rowing men’s eight leading off the field.

Similarly, the US women’s eight, who took silver in Belgrade last month, will be among the favourites for the women’s championship eights. But they face a challenge from a crew comprising the US women’s sculling squad, setting off behind them with bow number 5, and from last year’s champions Leander Club of the UK. Denmark also have a women’s eight entered.

There are some interesting entries in the other championship events. In the men’s double sculls, look out for the composite of Monaco’s Quentin Antognelli and USA lightweight men’s quadruple sculls crew member Jamie Copus – both alumni of Oxford Brookes University.

World Coastal Rowing champions Christopher Bak and Kory Rogers will be hoping to capitalise on their endurance, but starting at bow number 13 they have plenty of crews to work through if they want to challenge for the win.

But the Head of the Charles is not just about the championship events – there are 75 categories across the three days of racing, with competitors ranging in age from under 17 up to over 80 years old. The most entries were received for the men’s grand master and veteran single sculls, where 125 scullers aged between 50 and 69 will take to the famous course.