With the advent of a new year and the start of the racing season proper coming ever closer, junior crews are going to be more eager than ever to showcase what they’ve achieved through the long miles of winter training by testing their speeds against one another. As the first race of the year now stands only a couple of weeks away, it marks an important time to establish the key players in schoolboy rowing this year.
Windsor Boys’ School Boat Club
As one of the biggest names in schoolboy sculling, it’s no surprise that Windsor Boys’ School makes their way onto this list of crews to watch. After a slightly disappointing performance at the Schools’ Head of the River last year, placing fourth, the Windsor Boys quad more than made up for it with wins at both the National Schools’ Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta, showcasing their speed as well as their determination. A deep level of international experience is present in the squad, with Ruben Taylor having competed in the single at the Coupe de la Jeunesse and Joe Wellington in the quad at the U19 World Rowing Championships. Finally, a strong performance from Joe Wellington at the early ID single trials back in November, placing second, alongside other good times delivered by the entire Windsor Boys’ squad, cement the boys in green and yellow as ones to watch in 2025.
Shiplake College Boat Club
Shiplake College Boat Club will be looking to build on their impressive performances throughout the duration of last season. Second-placed finishes at the Schools’ Head of the River and the National Schools’ Regatta, as well as reaching the finals in The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup (for the first time in over 30 years), demonstrate the level of talent and experience this club possesses, as they go into 2025 intending to make this the year that St Pauls School Boat Club is finally dethroned. Strong performances over the summer internationally from Luca Hunt-Davis, Finlay Rhys Jones, and Henry Day-Clark at the Coupe de la Jeunesse regatta, at which Luca and Finlay were part of the British eight that broke the world’s best time, and a win for William Harper in the eight at the U19 World Rowing Championships indicate a level of racing experience that other clubs and schools may lack, giving Shiplake College a definite edge when it comes to racing season.
Hampton School Boat Club
While maybe lacking the recent racing pedigree of some other clubs on this list, Hampton School Boat Club should not be left out of the conversation, as they look to be a fierce competitor near the top of schoolboy rowing this year. Following a set of solid performances throughout the 23/24 season – culminating in an eighth-placed finish in the championship eights category at the National Schools’ Regatta – Hampton also took a fourth-place finish in the Junior 16 first eights category, showcasing a good level of talent that will be joining the senior squad this year. Furthermore, several Hampton boys earned their GB vests over the summer. George Buckingham took home three impressive medals from the Coupe de la Jeunesse regatta and Harry Bernard stroked the pair at the same regatta. Meanwhile, Harry Oliver was part of the victorious eight at the U19 World Rowing Championships. With 17 triallists at early IDs earlier this season, there’s no lack of talent in the current group either. Overall, Hampton School will be looking to make waves this year and establish themselves as a key player on the schoolboy rowing circuit.
St Paul’s School Boat Club
Without a doubt, St Paul’s School Boat Club will assume their well-earned place at the top of this list as ones to watch across all age groups in 2025. In 2024, their Junior 15 eight seemed to possess strength and speed unheard of in crews that young, enjoying an unbeaten season that saw them take victories at the National Schools’ Regatta, Marlow Regatta and the Schools’ Head of the River replacement race. With no less than six triallists racing at the early ID trials in November, the St Paul’s boys seem a likely bet to dominate the Junior 16 competition this year. Meanwhile, their first eight will be looking to continue their reign over schoolboy rowing, building on their undefeated 2023/24 season, having achieved the notorious ‘Quadruple’ – wins at the Head of the Charles, Schools’ Head of the River, National Schools’ Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta. With four athletes medalling at the U19 World Rowing Championships over the summer and Jonathan Miles, Alp Karadogan, and Patrick Wild all placing in the top five at early IDs, the boys in black and white are showing no signs of stopping.
Walbrook Rowing Club
A relatively new entrant to the junior rowing scene, Walbrook have stolen hearts and minds with a series of blistering performances at both Junior 14 and Junior 15 level. This culminated in them smashing the British Rowing Junior Championships record on their way to a historic gold last summer and they’ll surely be back in 2025 with an eye on the Junior 16 title at both the latter event and the National Schools’ Regatta. Increasingly, Junior 16 boats have a pretty good shot at making the main draw of Henley Royal Regatta too, so it could be an exciting season ahead for these young athletes.
Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club
Amongst a plethora of stunning performances at the 2024 edition of the National Schools’ Regatta, this Junior 16 double were perhaps the most impressive on a long day of finals. Provided neither of these athletes have been swept up by schools – which would be a shame – they should be competitive at the punchy end of junior rowing this year. If they can find a few more folk to row with, a shot at quad sculling glory is also not out of the question.
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