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Lightweight sculling is unfortunately an art form that thanks to organisational change is slowly being phased out. It is, however, fantastic to see that at the British Championships there is still a place for it. When we say rowing is both an art and a science, nothing epitomises it more than lightweight single sculling. A fine combination of both physical performance and technical artistry, it is a fine line to walk. Solo multi-lane racing, no matter the sport, always brings with it an enhanced level of competition; you are the only one responsible for success or failure. This year’s senior championships promises a strong and competitive field; at the time of writing, there are 11 competitors who stand ready to battle for the title of British champion.
Clydesdale ARC (B Parsonage)
A five-hour journey signifies that this entry means business and when you take into account Parsonage’s recent results, that is certainly the impression that I get. After winning the lightweight single at the Scottish Championships alongside a third-placed finish at Marlow Regatta and qualification for the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta, it is hard to build a case against this richly-talented athlete. Results show that he has put the miles in and is more than capable of moving the boat very quickly. As a result, he is probably the favourite for the top spot.
The Tideway Scullers School (C Heseltine)
Previously of York University Boat Club, where he was part of a duo that set the Tandem 100,000 meters British record for the Lwt 20-29 Men’s, Heseltine has spent this season on the Tideway under the direction of The Tideway Sullers School. It will be interesting to see what he is capable of in side-by-side multi lane racing; it is obvious he has been training for multiple years now and will have a strong fitness base. Combine this with a years’ practice on one of the country’s most challenging rivers and it makes for what could be a strong challenger.
City of Cambridge (S Chard)
Another seasoned competitor, Chard has spent a serious amount of time in the single over the years and rows it like someone who is confident in both his bank of training and individual style. He was the second-fastest lightweight single at the Metropolitan Regatta this year and won the B-final a few weeks later at Marlow. Although he was ultimately unsuccessful in qualification for the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta, I am sure he will be back with a vengeance at British Championships and will want to end his season with some silverware.
Bath University (J Norton)
Coming into this event as one of the favourites, I would find it hard to imagine that Norton will disappoint and is likely to come away with a podium spot. He was the bronze medalist in this year’s championship lightweight single category at BUCS Regatta and, before transitioning into the coxed four for Henley Royal Regatta qualifiers, spent the majority of the season with sculling blades in his grasp. He has done the miles both on and off the water, worked with the top-class coaches Bath has to offer and race-tested himself multiple times.
Aberdeen University (J Zbikoski)
The cox of the Aberdeen Univeristy men’s first eight at this year’s Aberdeen Boat Race, this is maybe not the boat class that Zbikoski usually finds himself in but I am sure there is a reason that he has made the seven-hour drive to compete. Aberdeen is a program still in its infancy, but with a full-time performance coach and a growing squad that resulted in an open intermediate lightweight single scull medal at this year’s BUCS Regatta, we could have a strong competitor here. There are no signs of any coxing since February, so maybe he has spent the last few months out of the coxes seat, taking the technical knowledge a cox has and transferring it into his own shell. Combine this with training alongside the rest of the program and Zbikoski could be here to prove that trading the steering wire for sculling blades is a task he is more than capable of.
Prediction
This is going to be a fine example of multi-lane lightweight racing – the field is littered with top quality oarsman. Good luck to all competitors, as margins will be tight and heartbreak top of the menu. I predict that after a very impressive regatta campaign, Parsonage will come away with the top spot, followed by Norton of Bath University and Chard of City of Cambridge.
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