The toughest, but most reliable test of sculling ability, winning in the single scull requires a stoic and relentless approach to competition, with nothing short of technical excellence, heroic strength and strategic mastery needed to overturn your opposition.
Despite the gravity of this challenge, more than sixty athletes will compete this weekend in a bid to become national champion. Some have spent months honing their small boat expertise, whilst others make the change into the single having focussed on larger boats throughout the rest of the season.
George Watson’s College – Ferguson
On paper – and at only 16 – Ferguson is the clear favourite for this event. The highest placed National Schools’ Regatta finisher to be continuing his sculling campaign will arrive at the National Watersports Centre fresh off a win in his single at this year’s GB-France J16 fixture. His aim will be simple: to secure the medal he missed out on at National Schools’, and given none of the four scullers that finished ahead of him are racing this weekend, the odds are certainly in his favour
Yarm School Boat Club – Norton
Choosing to stay in the single whilst many of his peers retreated to the larger boats at the Junior Sculling Regatta paid dividends, with Norton securing a silver medal, albeit in a somewhat depleted field. Come the National Schools’ Regatta, Norton finished second in the B final, with a time almost identical to Ferguson. Whilst times between finals never truly reflect the relative speeds of the crews in them, it does suggest that Norton will be gunning for a medal at Nottingham.
Durham Amateur Rowing Club (B) – Terry
Finishing a mere five seconds behind Ferguson at National Schools’, Terry will no-doubt be hot on the heels of his rival from the North. Most recently, he secured victory in the J18 Championship Singles at Durham Regatta, solidifying his position as a title challenger ahead of the British Championships – I would be surprised not to see him on the podium this weekend.
The Windsor Boys’ School (A) – Elliott
One of many young talents born out Mark Wilkinson’s Windsorian sculling machine, Elliott failed to secure a spot in the A final at National Schools’, though a strong performance in the B final meant his time was only a second slower than that of Durham’s Terry. Earlier in the year, he flew out to Boston as part of the Windsor Boys’ contingent to contest the Head of The Charles’ Regatta, finishing in fifth place as part of the club’s B crew. Going back even further, and almost exactly a year ago, Elliott was selected as part of the British quad that raced at Nottingham for the 2023 rendition of the GB-France match, narrowly missing out on the win. A compelling history of strong performances means a well-executed race this weekend could put him in the fight for a medal.
Hinksey Sculling School (A) – Austin-Baker and (B) – Turnbull
Two athletes from Hinksey’s top quad are making the switch to singles this weekend, with Austin-Baker and Turnbull both keen to demonstrate proficiency in the small boats. A programme on the rise, the quad both of these athletes were part of this season had a strong start to the year with a third-placed finish at the Schools’ Head of the River, a result they matched at the National Schools’ Regatta. Following NSR, they had a slightly disappointing Marlow Regatta, placing fifth. At Henley Royal, however, they progressed through several rounds of racing before drawing the eventual winners on the Saturday. One would expect both of these scullers to secure a spot in the A final, if not battle for medals.
Tideway Scullers School – Vizgirda
Winner of the second quads at National Schools’ Regatta, Vizgirda is another athlete making the jump from quad to single. In a rather satisfying season ark, Vizgirda began his year in the single at Scullers’ Head, where he placed 12th in a stacked J17 field – a position he has since strengthened throughout the year. Still a year junior to many of his competitors, he may struggle to overturn some of the heavyweights mentioned above, though an A final finish is far from unlikely.
Prediction
As we have come to expect from the British Rowing Championships, the hottest competition usually migrates to the small boats – and this class is no different. Personally, I can’t see past Ferguson for the win, but the rest of the podium is more open. I would be far from surprised to see one of the Hinksey athletes reaching for a medal, but whether they can overturn the skill of Norton and Terry is yet to be seen. Regardless of the final outcome, expect excellent racing from a cohort of incredibly talented scullers.
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