As this season is nearing the end, Brit Champs will be the last important race for many. A final opportunity for all to show their best. Along with this, this is likely to be the last time many J18s represent their clubs and schools before moving on to university rowing. We have the makings of an epic race in the Op J18 1x this year with entries from the likes of, Claires Court School, Exeter Rowing Club, Nottinghamshire County Rowing Association and many others.
Claires Court School Boat Club
Harry Ruinet is the sole representative for Claires Court in the Op J18 1x this year with the rest of the squad branching into the fours and eights. Harry has had a very successful season; noteworthy performances include a bronze medal in the championship quads at the National Schools’ Regatta and a gold medal from the Junior Sculling Regatta. All of this in mind he should place very highly, fully capable of the major finals. It is also important to note that Harry is a J17 racing up, just imagine what he is going to be like next season!
Exeter Rowing Club
Very much so a lesser-known club dwelling from Devon there are 2 scullers entered, Tommy Fuller and Sam Gater. Under the watchful eyes of new coaches Richard and Lorna Tinkler they have certainly been leading the club in an upward direction since their arrival. Tommy has had a very successful season thus far with strong results from Wallingford, placing 3rd. JSR placing 6th and most notably a 10th place finish in the champ single at NSR. However Sam is very much a novice to the sport, having only been rowing for 5 months he has excelled on the start programme and is coming into this race with high hopes. I expect both these scullers to place highly and be pushing for the major finals.
Nottinghamshire County Rowing Association
NCRA also have 2 scullers entered Byron Richards and Daniel Butler. Byron has had an incredible season this year and he is well in contention for taking the win this weekend. His most notable result was his bronze medal in the champ singles at the National Schools’ Regatta back in May, he has also won the Wallingford regatta. With all this previous success I would be very surprised if he didn’t A final as a minimum, certainly one of the favourites to take the title come Sunday. Daniel Butler also competed at the National Schools’ Regatta finishing 23rd. Although not on the same level as Byron, I am sure Daniel will be coming into the season finale positively.
Other mentions
The likes of Henry Orskov, Gwilym Johnson and Jamie Leppard have also entered and they are well-established scullers and should well be in the AB semi-finals mix. Charlie Ingham is also entered however he has recently been selected to represent Team England at HIR so it is unclear if he will compete this weekend, if he does, he is well in contention for a podium.
Predictions
This looks to be an awesome climax to the season with some awesome scullers. This may be controversial but I am predicting Richards to win, swiftly followed by Orskov and Leppard in third. I also expect Ruinet, Fuller and Ingham to all be in the mix up at the front. As we know, in singles people do appear from nowhere and shock the field, there may well be May I wish all competing the best and have a great end to the season.
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