Held at the National Watersports centre in Nottingham, the British Rowing Junior Championships is a great opportunity to display the calibre of junior rowing in the UK with crews competing from throughout the country. With 13 crews entered, the Women’s Junior Eights is set to produce a high pedigree of racing and will be an exciting chance to see how these crews all perform in a multi-lane side-by-side speed match down the 2000m course.
Aberdeen SRA, Glasgow Academy, George Heriot’s, George Watson’s
Despite having not raced as a crew this season, this composite crew looks to be a force to be reckoned with this weekend. The crew consists of the winning Glasgow Academy four from both the National Schools Regatta and Henley Women’s Regatta and the 1st placed pair from the National Schools Regatta from Aberdeen SRA. The pair went onto race at Henley Women’s Regatta where they placed 4th in the time trial and were knocked out of the event in the semi-finals by their new crewmates from Glasgow Academy. If their previous performances are anything to go by, this crew is set to produce a fast race down the course.
Headington School
Arguably one of the favourites coming into this weekend the crew from Headington is sure to bring some fast speed to the course. Despite not racing the earlier part of the season at the National Schools Regatta in the eight, Headington has managed to produce some notable performances this season. After a strong win at Henley Women’s Regatta in the Peabody Cup and also winning at Marlow regatta against some of their competitors this weekend the crew appears to be in good stead for their races. It will be exciting to see whether they have been able to continue to build on their successes coming as they arrive for this weekend’s racing.
Henley RC
With two crews entered into this race Henley look to be attacking this event with full force. The eight appear to have changed since Henley Women’s Regatta bringing in their Junior Quad into the boat which could add some fresh speed to the crew. The other half of their ‘A’ eight raced at Henley Women’s Regatta in this event and managed to race their way to the final after a competitive semi-final round. With the strong history, Henley RC has in producing fast crews these eights are undoubtedly likely to be one to watch this weekend and could walk away on top.
Lady Eleanor Holles BC
After a strong start to the season from picking up the title at National Schools Regatta, the crew from Lady Eleanor Holles BC is one to keep an eye on this weekend. They performed well at Henley Women’s Regatta, placing 3rd in the time-trial with less than 1 second between them and the 2nd placed crew. They managed to make it to the semi-final where they produced a high calibre of racing down the course only marginally missing out on making it to the next round. They also appear to be one of the more experienced crews coming into this weekend having been in the eight since National Schools Regatta unlike some of their competitors which could give them an extra edge on race day.
Shrewsbury School
Although not having as much racing experience as some of the other crews, the eight from Shrewsbury are set for a confident and strong performance. National Schools Regatta saw half of this eight race in the bronze-winning coxed four so they are hopefully able to transfer and build on this success in the eight. At Marlow Regatta last month they crossed the finish line in a comfortable 2nd showing the strength this crew is able to produce along a multi-lane setting. After having more time to develop since Marlow, this crew will likely bring some competitive racing down the track.
Predictions
Due to the high standard of crews racing this weekend, there’s a lot of contention for the top spot making it a difficult event to predict. However if their previous performances are anything to go off it looks to be between Henley RC, Headington School, and the composite crew from Aberdeen SRA, Glasgow Academy, George Heriot’s, and George Watson’s to be fighting to cross the line first.
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