As the head race season grappled with numerous cancellations, the anticipation mounts for the beginning of regatta season, one opening event of which is this Saturday’s Bedford Regatta. With a draw of 8 determined crews poised to navigate the 1.2km course along the River Great Ouse, the stage is set for a riveting display of skill and determination, signalling the dawn of a vibrant regatta season.
Lady Eleanor Holles Boat Club
In the realm of junior competitive racing, Lady Eleanor Holles Boat Club has cemented its reputation as a crew to watch. Nonetheless, the top spots have eluded them thus far: following a recent narrow miss at Wallingford Regatta where one of their WJ15 8+ crews fell short of third place by a mere 5 seconds, their resolve to stand atop the podium is sure to intensify. Amidst this pursuit also stands a remarkable achievement at the recent Hampton Head where their eight (LEH- BACKOVIC) clinched a very close third place, trailing the front runners by only 2 seconds. With this recent success, the three Lady Eleanor Holles crews racing on Saturday can safely enter the competition with firm assurance in their abilities to claim further triumphs.
Latymer Upper School
With three crews entered into the Bedford Regatta, Latymer Upper School are poised for a test of fierce inter-club competition. Their recent performance at Wallingford Regatta, where their first WJ15 8+ failed to qualify for the finals by around 14 seconds, serves as a motivating factor for the team. This setback and a 14th place finish at Hampton Head (LTU- STEPHENSON) undoubtedly fuels their desire to climb the ranks and showcase their improvements on the regatta stage.
Norwich School
Entering Bedford Regatta with one crew, the Norwich School WJ15 8+ face the challenge of making their presence known on the regatta circuit. Their 12th place finish at Hampton Head, just ahead of Latymer by 12 seconds, underscores their competitive spirit. However, with this being their inaugural regatta of the season, there’s an air of uncertainty surrounding their performance on a shorter course. Yet, this uncertainty is overshadowed by the promise of immense potential that the Norwich girls bring to the competition; if they adapt to the shorter course at Bedford, hopefully the Norwich WJ15 8+ can exceed expectations and leave a lasting impression for the rest of the regatta season.
Predictions
With most of the crews having already gauged their strengths and weaknesses at the Hampton Head, positions of the upcoming race are sure to be dynamic and unpredictable. Amidst this excitement, I believe Lady Eleanor Holles Boat Club emerges as a formidable contender aiming for first considering their performances thus far. Following closely behind, the Latymer Upper School crews also show promise, while the performances of Norwich School and St Edward’s School remain uncertain as they navigate the challenges of regatta courses for the first time this season.
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