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The 2024 season has had no shortage of spectacles, with some of the most impressive competition the rowing community has ever seen, particularly in the open junior quadruple sculls. And rounding out this remarkable year comes the British Junior and Senior Club Championships, returning after a brief hiatus, to the lanes of Nottingham. With many of the top junior crews choosing to lay down their oars after Henley, this event gives exciting opportunities for new crews to step into the limelight and exhibit their talents for a chance to make the podium.
Hartpury College Rowing Academy
Hartpury has had an impressive season this year, with a slightly slow start and then culminating in a fourth-place finish at Marlow Regatta and a quarter-final at Henley Royal Regatta (losing out to the eventual winners Windsor Boys School BC) all in the quads. Showing an array of talents, the Rowing Academy picked up a win at the National Schools’ Regatta in the Championship Singles. Now returning for one last race, although admittedly without their top sculler Elliott Donovan-Davies, they must surely be the favourites. This quad differs slightly from their National Schools’ boat, which took sixth, with three out of four members reuniting. And with none of the crews which bested them at Dorney entering here, it is the perfect moment for them to make the top step of the podium their own.
Agecroft Rowing Club/Sunderland City/York City Rowing Club
This composite quad, comprised primarily of athletes from York City, is somewhat of an unknown quantity. Seeded at the top of the draw, the four rowers together are expected to put down some real speed. But when we look at their achievements individually, we’re left somewhat puzzled. The two from York City finished sixth in the B final at National Schools’ in the Championship 2x, while the member from Sunderland finished eighth in the C final in the Champ 1x. Regardless, by being the first to go down the course, I’m sure this gives them extra motivation to defend their position from the front, although I worry they will ultimately be somewhat outmatched.
Lea Rowing Club
Lea appears to have put forward a combination of members from their top two junior quads. At Marlow Regatta these crews finished third in the B-final and fifth in the D-final respectively. Depending on the amount of speed this rearrangement will have cost them, they can expect to be fighting near the top, with this regatta yielding easier competition than Marlow. If they can sync together the same way their top quad did, they will have a serious shot at the podium. Members of this crew made it to Thursday in the Fawley Challenge Cup this year, before submitting to Hinksey Sculling School, which is not a feat to be taken lightly, so it will be interesting to see what they can produce here.
Royal Grammar School High Wycombe
High Wycombe have essentially fielded their top quad, with three out of four members matching their National Schools’ crew, which finished fifth in the B-final. This gives them serious potential to overpower Lea RC, who they were only four seconds behind at that regatta. Furthermore, having entered multiple crews into this event, it seems they are going all in for the quads, so it will be compelling to see if they can pull off something special. Their ‘B’ quad in this event finished sixth in the second 4x at National Schools’, a result which, in terms of pure times, can stack up against the competition here. With that in mind, it would not be out of the question to see two High Wycombe crews in the A-final this weekend.
Tees Rowing Club
This crew has a significant advantage over their counterparts for one notable reason: they have entered their true top quad. At National Schools’, Tees finished second in the C-final with an identical crew. By racing an unchanged combination, they will have more familiarity and experience racing together, which may be invaluable. However, realistically the big question is whether their competition has slowed enough due to crew changes for this crew to capitalise, which could potentially fast-track them to a step on the podium.
Notable Mentions
The crew from Claires Court School Boat Club will certainly be one to watch, with multiple members coming from the club’s J16 4x, which finished fifth at National Schools’. Stepping up into the J18 category, we will have to wait and see if they can still hold their own. Additionally, one of the few clubs to field their top crew is Leeds Rowing Club, although at National Schools’ they only managed eighth in the C-final.
Predictions
This is undoubtedly Hartpury’s moment to shine. As the only crew to have previously seen an A-final at a major regatta, I would be shocked not to see them on the top step. Behind them, the order is less clear, though I would suggest High Wycombe and Lea will be taking the minor medals.
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