All imagery credit to AllMarkOne
As the dust from Henley Royal settles there is one more major event on the junior rowing calendar, British Junior Championships. This years edition has been moved up to Strathclyde Country Park which has affected which clubs enter however the number of entries at a quick look seem very similar.
St Andrews Boat Club
This double of the Patton brothers won at the National Schools’ Regatta by clear water advantage over Reading and were clearly the dominant crew for the whole regatta. With high level racing experience at Henley Royal last year and being back in their home country it will take something special to beat this combination.
Windsor Boys School
With two doubles entered into this year’s event WBSBC will be hoping to try and show their quality after narrowly missing out on going back-to-back at Henley Royal just a few weeks ago. The top double I expect will be the combination of Todorov and Chute – a name that carries a lot of respect within the junior and development sculling scene.
Yarm School
A club having a quietly good year is Yarm School. A previously historic rowing school they have lost their way in recent years. However not all appears to be lost, Archie Norton seems to be showing some good speed despite this with some good results at GB Trials this year, he will be hoping that he can transfer this speed into the double for this event.
Aberdeen University/George Watsons College & Glasgow Academy/Stirling Academy
Information on these two doubles is difficult to come by and therefore this comes as a slight stab in the dark. However, I am trusting that with all four clubs involved being Scottish-based, they will be feeling extra motivated to set this year’s standard. It also could be that one of these is the U19 combination going to Worlds or Coupe later this year.
Chester-le-Street/Tyne RC
With some research telling me this is the bow and stroke seat from the winning PE Teddies boat this is a combination that cannot be ignored. Both of these boys have had an incredible season doing the rare double of winning at both National Schools’ and Henley they will be hoping to make it 3 from 3 this year and take the win.
Prediction
I think this could be a really good watch this weekend with what promises to be very tight racing however I see this being a shootout between the combinations from St Andrews and the Windsor Boys machine with the 3rd place going to one of the three composites.
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