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Like every year, the WJ18 singles event has exploded in number compared to National Schools’ and Junior Sculling Regatta, with a huge forty one entries. We’ll see ex-GB internationals, recent triallists, and singles veterans in the line-up, each of who can back themselves with a great deal of confidence coming into the final stretch of the season. With 7 finals in which they’ll be fighting it out, there is a huge range of talents and styles competing this weekend – only time will tell who will come out on top.
Hartpury University and College: Chloe Sheppard
Despite less than three years in the sport, Sheppard arrives in Nottingham as a firm favourite to win in a huge field of 41 scullers. Recently selected to England’s Home International squad as their junior women’s single sculler, and a world bronze medalist in the quad, Sheppard’s record-breaking results on a domestic and international level prove not only her raw talent as an athlete, but also the quality of Hartpury’s high-performance program. In what is sure to be a day of tight racing, Sheppard’s pedigree will surely carry her far ahead of her competition.
Lea Rowing Club: Beatrice Hughes, Jess Kerbiriou, and Evelyn Pakule
Three scullers will be painting the lake orange this weekend, all of whom were members of Lea’s fourth-placed National Schools’ quad who more recently reached the quarter-finals of the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. Particularly of note are Jess Kerbiriou and Beatrice Hughes, both of whom are GB U19 triallists in the single and have seen great recent success in a double as losing finalists (to Sheppard’s crew) at Henley Women’s Regatta – a boat they will be reprising this weekend alongside racing campaigns in singles. Alongside Hughes, Evelyn Pakule took third place in the WJ18 double at last year’s British Championships and will double up in the same event this year – as two-seat in their ever-competitive quad, Pakule’s speed shouldn’t be underestimated against her high-performing crewmates.
Claires Court School: Jemimah Donn
Ever a threatening entry as a previous Henley Royal winner, the younger Donn sister has shown no signs of slowing down in her trusty single this season despite also being an integral part of Claires Court’s quad project. Alongside a silver medal in this boat class at the Junior Sculling Regatta in May, Donn has seen strong performances at GB U19 trials throughout this season as a sculler and will make the trip to Nottingham off the back of final crew formation this week. Her skill in singles is consistent and well-documented – despite time out of the boat for pursuits in the quad, Donn will come into this weekend with a huge amount of confidence.
Chester-Le-Street Amateur Rowing Club: Scarlett Palmer
Currently a J17, Palmer made the A-final of J16 singles at last year’s regatta, taking a respectable fifth place ahead of many of her upcoming opposition. On a slightly larger stage, she was eighth in championship singles at the National Schools’ Regatta back in May, and comes to Nottingham as the highest finisher at this regatta, with significant rivals seeing success in different boat classes. Her training at a smaller club will have afforded her more experience in smaller boats than many of her high-profile competitors who train in quads and eights, and it will be exciting to see how this talented sculler can measure up against big names in the junior circuit.
City of Sunderland: Hannah Stoker
Fifth place in the C-final of J16 singles last year kicked off a significant improvement in Stoker’s singles form throughout her 2024 season, with notable results including third in the B-final of championship doubles at the National Schools’ Regatta, and cruising to the quarter finals of the Di Ellis trophy at Henley Women’s Regatta (progressing further than any other single in this field). To progress so far between the booms takes a great deal of maturity and skill for such a young athlete, and with an impressive third place in the time trial I have no doubt Stoker will be one to watch for a classy display of sculling this weekend.
Peterborough City Rowing Club: Emma Calver
With a fourth-placed finish in J16 singles last year ahead of Chester-Le-Street’s Palmer, and a recent bronze at the Junior Sculling Regatta against J17s, Calver is an obvious threat to many in this event, and will no doubt put in a strong effort to make a major final. She is a prime example of the high-quality single scullers produced by provincial clubs, and impressive results against many of her upcoming competitors make her a fierce comtestant heading into this weekend’s racing.
Other Entries:
Johnson of Reading Blue Coat will be aiming to improve upon her second place in the B-final last year, and has set herself up well after recently reaching the Sunday of Henley Women’s in the single. RGS Worcester’s Olivia Hodgson is a mainstay of the small boat scene and took bronze in J16 doubles last year – her extensive experience in the single will make her a hardened racer. Notts County’s Emily Besley took bronze at the Junior Sculling Regatta this year and lost to the eventual winner of the Di Ellis trophy at HWR – she is never to be underestimated in a singles race, and could absolutely make the A-final.
Predictions:
Surely no one can take on the speed of Chloe Sheppard – she is far and away the favourite for gold and will no doubt be pushing for as large a margin as possible ahead of her competition. Behind her, Jemimah Donn’s name is synonymous with consistency and skill, and she is absolutely a candidate for a podium finish, alongside any of the Lea trio. Amongst smaller clubs, Palmer’s exciting results at the National Schools’ Regatta will make her one to watch this weekend and I look forward to seeing her campaign against large clubs, and Stoker’s confidence in racing will serve her well in the high-pressure of single sculling. Tight margins between competitors throughout the season make it difficult to predict an exact podium, or even A-final, but Sheppard is a clear choice for gold, with an exhilarating mixture of large institutions and smaller clubs scrapping it out for A-final placings.
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