As the season comes to an end, club and schools gather for one final race. This is the last opportunity to take home the prestigious title of the Women’s J18 Eights British Champion. Despite only four crews being entered, the race promises to be an exciting one, with top clubs and schools from across the country competing for gold.
Wallingford Rowing Club
Without a doubt, Wallingford are the favourites for this race. They not only qualified for Henley Royal Regatta, but also progressed through their first round against St George’s to face the immense St Edward’s School crew who knocked them out of the competition. Despite this eight being comprised of mostly J16s, they put on an impressive performance this year, both in their J16 category (coming second at National Schools’), and the J18 category. I am certain they will clutch the win.
Kingston Grammar School
Kingston have had a good season this year, and despite coming third in the B final at National Schools’ this year, they put on an impressive showing at the Royal, beating Latymer in the first round before losing to Hinksey in the second. They made incredible progress between National Schools’ and Henley, and I am excited to see them challenge Wallingford for the gold.
Marlow Rowing Club
Marlow secured a strong result at National Schools’ finishing sixth overall in a competitive category and beating Kingston by over ten seconds. Marlow too qualified for Henley Royal, losing to Newport Aquatic Center in the second round. All this, despite Marlow top four athletes being seated firmly in the UK’s second-fastest junior women’s quad – a true testament to the strength and depth of the Marlow programme.
Sir Williams Perkins’s School
A well-known name on the circuit, but with Perkins’s eight playing second fiddle to this year’s top quad, it remains to see how they will perform as an eight against three highly competitive crews.
Prediction
I believe this will be an extremely close race between Wallingford, Kingston and Marlow but having seen the consistent domination and success of Wallingford throughout the year, I believe they are the most trustworthy crew to take home the gold. However Kingston and Marlow will not make this an easy feat and I am excited to see how the results turn out.
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