With Henley just round the corner and the British Rowing Junior Championships this weekend it’ll be some exciting racing to look forward to. This year at Junior champs we see more private schools enter into this event, mainly because it is the main competition leading up to Henley Royal Regatta. We see an amazing number of 14 crews entered into this event. On a normal year when Henley is before this event we usually see about 4 crews entering. From what people seen at national schools this will be some exciting racing and will be intriguing to see what crews have improved from national schools to this Sunday.
Eton College
One of the most historic school rowing clubs needs no introduction. Eton College, the current holders of the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup, don’t usually enter this event as its after Henley Royal Regatta but will come out in force this Sunday. Recent results from this crew needs no introduction either. A 1st place at National Schools winning the Queen mother Cup by an incredible 4 seconds, they also won Op J18 8+ at met regatta, but in their final A they were up against the likes of leander, Oxford Brookes and imperial college who was in the Op 8+ category. They were only 8 seconds off Imperial College, which is pretty good for a school boy crew.
King’s College School
Again, another historic school rowing club that also needs no introduction. Kings College school have got a mainly J17 crew this season but these are strong and powerful J17s. This shown in their outstanding result at national schools earlier in May. These boys got a 2nd place after coming from 6th place at the 1st 500 to row through St Edwards and St Paul’s school to get the silver medal.
St Paul’s School
With the recent new purchase of the new Empacher X87 (one of the first ones to enter the UK) St Paul’s will be looking mighty fine this sunday with redemption needed for the lead up to Henley. This is shown is them getting a bronze medal at national schools so, there will be no doubt they will be aiming for gold. The experience of Joe Middleton at 7 seat will give Paul’s a slight advantage as he has been competing at a very high level since he was just a J16. Also the technical coaching prowess from Bobby Thatcher could give St Paul’s that extra edge this weekend.
More crews to mention that could be within a fighting chance would be Abingdon because of them getting the 4th place at National Schools, Shrewsbury School because of them coming not far behind Abingdon and Aberdeen Schools rowing association because they have a lot of pedigree at this competition and this particular event, so it will be interesting to see how they fair up against the newcomers of this event.
Prediction:
As we have seen more racing this year its become easier to get a good idea of where everyone will place this Sunday.
1st – St Paul’s School
2nd – Eton College
3rd – Kings College School
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