First-ever Junior Fours Head is ready to take flight
What does it take to get an event from an idea to lift off? Fergus Mainland chatted to Tim Liversage to find out and see what he’s looking forward to this weekend
Tomorrow will be the first-ever edition of the Junior Fours Head. 275 crews will take part in the inaugural race from Mortlake to Putney on the world-famous Tideway course.
The Junior Fours Head has been months in the planning. It has been the brainchild of event Chair Tim Liversage, who is passionate about providing more racing opportunities to juniors across the country.
The Junior Fours Head is running in tandem with the Fours Festival. This weekend also sees The Fours Head and Veteran Fours Head return for the first time since 2022, with 432 boats set to race the 6.8km course on Saturday and a further 259 crews raring to go on Sunday.
Over the next three days, 4000 rowers and coxes will be racing, and that’s not including all the competitors posting times in the RP3 Virtual Fours Head.
“The rowing community has come together. There will be some kids who win and get prizes, and that’s wonderful, but actually seeing 1200 juniors experience the tideway racing is what I’ll be looking forward to,” said Tim Liversage.
The creation of the Junior Fours Head has resulted in more racing opportunities across one of the busiest weekends of the rowing calendar. The Fours Head is one of the most popular events in the calendar and is notoriously oversubscribed after entries have been open for a matter of minutes.
Fours Head Chair Richard Phelps is delighted at the prospect of more people being able to take to the water.
“Hopefully, rowers across the country and elsewhere are incredibly excited,” said Richard.
“I’m thrilled for the Junior Fours Head. Hats off to Tim and team for going from a standing start to a 275 boat event in one year. Anyone who creates a new head event deserves all the praise that can fall upon them.
“I hope they have good weather, good conditions, and no incidents, and they can all take the credit for an amazing new event. It’s already made a real impact. We’ve already been able to over 100 extra places to non-junior crews as a result of the Junior Fours Head; everyone is benefiting. There are more juniors racing this weekend, and there are more seniors racing, so I think it’s awesome.”
Chair of the Veteran Fours Head Claire McIntosh echoed Richard’s sentiment. “A big thank you to my Organising Committee and all the other volunteers who make it possible to run the race.”
“Many of the team will be onto their third day of volunteering by the Sunday race. After weather cancellations in 2023 and 2024, we’re keeping everything crossed that our 260 crews get to race down the track on Sunday.”
Across the country, some of the UK’s most popular events are oversubscribed as people chomp at the bit for racing opportunities. Events like Rutherford Head sell out in a matter of minutes, and The National Schools’ Regatta’s footprint has outgrown the National Water Sports Centre. These are all great problems for events to have navigating these challenges is something Tim and the organising committee have been hard at work problem-solving to create more chances in the calendar for juniors to race.
“There is clearly a demand for more racing. That being said, to work out the appetite for it, there is always a risk,” said Tim.
“We were overwhelmed with 420 entries, and we can only take 275 this year. We also knew that we introduced the J16 Coxed Quadruple Scull, and that was a risk as well. However, there were enough key people behind the idea. First of all, Putney High School is stepping up as a principal partner.
“If a school is willing to get behind a narrative and cover that risk, it means we’re incredibly lucky to have that partnership for three years. Putney High School is a leading provider of girls’ rowing in London, and they want to champion junior rowing.
“Once I knew those people were onboard with what we were doing, from there it was about approaching British Rowing and getting affiliated. Because everybody understands the narrative that there is clearly demand, I think we’ve been overwhelmed with the support from endemic sponsors. Running a race on the Tideway costs a lot of money, and to run 275 boats this year meant we needed extra support from sponsors, and they’ve been phenomenal.”
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The sponsors supporting this year’s event are set to contribute enormously to the overall experience of the event. The Junior Fours Head committee are fully aware that in order to have more people competing, there needs to be more volunteers and individuals supporting racing. As such, Filippi Boats is sponsoring the volunteers. If you are helping on the day, you’ll be entered into a prize draw.
Much like the Schools’ Head, Junior Sculling Head, and NSR, Junior Fours Head will be racing on a school day, but that hasn’t deterred entries. An oversubscribed event in its first year is a great indication of things to come. This year’s event also includes eight crews making the trip from Italy.
The introduction of the Junior Fours head would not have been possible without the support of the other Fours Heads taking place this weekend. It’s a lesson in what’s possible when events work together to grow the sport and facilitate more racing across the country.
“I don’t think there is anything stopping other events from actually working a bit more closely with others,” explained Tim.
“We’re a tiny little sport with a growing sense of demand, but as events, we don’t talk to each other as much as we perhaps could. We rely on the regional committees to make decisions around what we are doing.
“Fours Head has reserved the right to have some junior crews racing on Saturday. Allows them to race if they can’t race on Friday, as it’s a school day. Rowing is getting bigger, and the foot doesn’t fit the shoe anymore, so we have to start working together, and I’m really grateful for Claire and Richard in helping as well.”
The Junior Fours Head will take place tomorrow at 11:30
The Fours Head will take place on Saturday at 12:15
The Veteran Fours Head will take place on Sunday at 13:00
