As we approach the GB February trials for the U19 age group, the competition is as fierce as ever. At the top of the group, we have some familiar faces mixed in with some new contenders, so it will be interesting to see, since GBRT Early ID trials in November, which athletes have made improvements and which have slowed a little. At Early IDs, it was great to see two scullers leading the charge over a swath of sweep athletes, and it gives a great indication of the strength of British junior sculling right now.
The Windsor Boys’ School Boat Club: Joe Wellington and Isaac Thornton
A familiar face at the top end of junior sculling, Windsor’s Joe Wellington is a safe bet to produce an impressive performance. As the Windsor squad’s figurehead athlete, having been named club champion at their recent Club Championship on Dorney Lake, he finds himself standing on the shoulders of the many remarkable Windsor athletes that have come before him. Though this inevitably brings pressure, Wellington has the pedigree to back it up. He was an integral part of last year’s top quad, which dominated throughout the season, securing wins at the Henley Royal Regatta, National Schools’ Regatta, and the Head of the Charles. This year, they are on a path to repeat this feat, having already retained their title in Boston. Individually, Wellington came second at Early IDs in November, falling only a second behind Wycliffe’s Max Fullman. Over the tough Boston trials course, this is a seriously slim margin and one that Wellington will be eager to reverse. Expect him to be on the attack next weekend.
Backing up Wellington this year is Isaac Thornton, the third-fastest sculler at Early IDs. Despite a considerable 22-second margin between the two teammates, he has still distinguished himself as one of the strongest scullers in the country. Not only that but with a fraction of the experience of his counterpart, Thornton can be expected to make improvements rapidly. I would predict to see him rising the ranks as the season and the trial process progress. He was a key member of Windsor’s Junior 16 quad last season, which followed in hallowed footsteps by also taking the win at the National Schools’ Regatta’. Moving into Junior 17 this year, he’s only going to get better and better.
Wycliffe Junior Rowing Club: Max Fullman
As the victor at November’s Early ID trials, Fullman may be coming into February trials as the athlete to watch. Of all the contenders, he is likely the most familiar with the single scull, having come third at the National Schools’ Regatta’ last summer. However, this does not make his current position any less precarious, with a target now on his back. The margins between Fullman and Joe Wellington were thin in November so his comfort level will be slim. This could still pay off in his favour; sitting back on your training with so many dogs biting at your heels is hard. Outside of Early IDs, we haven’t seen much of him or Wycliffe this season, so it’s difficult to know what the squad has been doing over winter, but that makes the anticipation for February trials even greater. Let’s see what he can produce this time around.
Great Marlow School Boat Club: Ethan Hunt
With Great Marlow’s previous top sculler, Sal Dunn, having graduated from the junior ranks, it is time for a new squad member to step up. This comes in the form of Ethan Hunt, whose opening season marker was running out as the fourth fastest sculler and tenth overall at the November Early IDs. Though slightly overshadowed by his teammate last season, he is still no stranger to the sharp end of the rowing scene, having sat at bow in the club’s top quad last season, which finished just outside the podium at the National Schools’ Regatta’. This year, as a quad, the club took the win at Wycliffe Big Head over Marlow and Wycliffe, a notable result. Nonetheless, I am interested to see what else he can deliver individually as we come into February trials weekend.
Hartpury College: George Coates and Louis Sheasby
An increasingly common threat on the junior circuit, Hartpury consistently produces athletes to watch out for. Since the likes of Elliott Donovan-Davies, who took the win in the boy’s championship single at the National Schools’ Regatta last year and is now rowing at Stanford, new athletes are stepping up to fill his place. Primarily, this comes in the form of George Coates, who finished Early IDs as the seventh-fastest sculler, and 16th overall. Though he does not yet have Donovan-Davies’ prowess, Hartpury is known to produce some athletic weapons, so with a bit more finesse, Coates will surely rise the ranks. Just behind him, finishing 19th overall, was Louis Sheasby. With only two seconds separating them, having a training partner of similar speed must be invaluable for these two. It would not shock me to see them in the mix as we get into the serious end of GB trials.
About The Author
Discover more from JRN
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
