With most contenders of both the championship coxed and coxless fours category having raced the preceding day in the championship eights category, almost every crew in this category will be either enjoying the sweet taste of success or suffering the bitter feelings of defeat. For those defeated, eyes will be set on revenge on those crews who beat them a matter of hours before. For those triumphant, a chance to prove their consistency, hold onto their reputation and to pick up some additional silverware.
However, the coxless fours category is a completely different ball game to eights racing. Not only do we see the inclusion of those crews who have been playing their cards close to their chest and haven’t engaged in the eights category the day before, however to triumph and prosper in a coxless boat requires a much higher level of psychological perseverance, fortitude and willpower. Stress levels rise for the oarsmen with the additional 00pressure of steering a flawless line as well as ensuring they execute the race plan perfectly without the support of a fellow team member to guide them through every painful, gruelling and gut-wrenching stroke of the race. In this category, results will be overthrown and upturned from the previous day and every competitor and spectator for this category should most certainly expect the unexpected.
Abingdon School
A somewhat forgotten club in the junior rowing scene since Dave Currie left the Abingdon program after they won the triple a number of years back. After a few uninspiring years and finishes in the B final at National Schools’ in championship eights, Abingdon are back, and this time they mean business. Rory Copus is clearly doing the program a great deal of success and this is evidenced by an extremely impressive 4th place finish in championship eights at Schools’ Head of the River, ahead of the likes of Radley, Westminster and St Edwards, who they have been defeated by persistently over the last couple of years. Abingdon are just getting back into the swing of things, and therefore whilst a medal is most likely out of reach for this crew entered, an A final finish is definitely achievable for this crew and I would be expecting them to place in the top 5 in this competitive category.
St Pauls School
A win in challenge coxless fours, at the recent Wallingford Regatta, ahead of the likes of Thames rowing club, sets this crew up for a commanding lead over the rest of the field and a convincing win in this category on Sunday. This combination features the successful athletes George Dickinson, Douwe de Graaf and Calvin Tarczy, who featured in St Paul’s eight last season, which took a gold medal at National Schools and reached day 3 of Henley, and they will only be looking to maintain their sterling reputation. Additionally, Douwe de Graaf represented GB at junior worlds last season, where his four managed to achieve an outstanding gold medal finish, and this only adds another degree of experience and professionalism to this combination.
Eton College
Playing their cards close to their chest so far this season, no one really has any idea whatsoever of how fast Eton are going to be this coming weekend. Will their tactics have paid off? Or alternatively will they crumble under the pressure of having done little to no regatta experience this season and fall short when it really matters? Only time will tell, however Eton have certainly made a bold entry into this category of two fours. “Eton College K”, made up of athletes from their championship eight, will most certainly be their top combination entered into this event, with “Eton College A” being composed of members from the club’s second eight. A recent win in junior fours at Wallingford Regatta ahead of Shiplake College would suggest that their top combination will have what it takes to place towards the top end of the A final, and this is further reinforced by the fact that their top combination contains Oscar Carr-Middleton, who represented the school in their championship eight last season which medalled at National Schools and reached Semi-Finals day at Henley.
Eton’s second four in this event should not be underestimated however. This four is composed of athletes from their second eight, which placed fourth overall in the championship eights category at Schools’ Head, despite racing in the second eights category. Therefore, I would predict an A final finish on the cards for this four as well, although I wouldn’t predict them to finish in such a high position as their top combination.
Shiplake College
With the four athletes entered in this four racing in the championship eight the previous day, this will be one of the two combinations for Shiplake’s Sunday boats entry, with the other combination entering Championship Coxed Fours. Whether this is the stronger of these two combinations is unknown, however both Oli Newton and Fred Peck feature in this combination and these two crew members starred in Shiplake’s eight last season, which took home medals at Schools Head and National Schools and reached the Saturday of Henley. Furthermore, this combination features Dom Brown, who recently represented GB at Munich Regatta in the eight which brought home a gold medal. Based on the crew members alone, it is likely that this combination have the potential to be pretty quick this Sunday.
Molesey Boat Club
Winners of the junior fours category at Schools’ Head of the River, this four will be pretty confident coming into this event this weekend. A change from rowing in coxed fours to sweeping in a coxless boat will be a shift in dynamic for this crew, however the boat speed will most certainly still be there. I believe this crew hid themselves from the rest of the field at Wallingford Regatta, however a recent defeat over a Shiplake four at Thames Ditton Regatta last weekend will provide this four with a confidence boost coming into the race this Sunday. It seems like this four has a lot to offer based on previous performance throughout the season and they won’t be afraid to let their speed show this Sunday. A position in the A final is definitely on the cards.
St Edwards School
Teddies, so to speak, have had a rather underwhelming set of results so far this season, with a 7th place finish in championship eights at Schools Head of the River back in March, although in a strong and competitive field. However, a recent and reportedly successful contest in a private match up against Eton’s second eight would suggest that their eight has been finding their feet and gaining speed as the season progresses. Furthermore, the coxless four they have entered into this category is the stern four of their championship eight from the Saturday, so this crew should possess the technical ability, rhythm and power reflected in their eight during Saturday’s racing. Teddies could potentially be one of the underdogs in this field and an A final finish certainly isn’t looking like it’s out of the question.
Winchester College
An admirable second place finish in junior fours at Schools Head of the River would suggest that this crew are well-drilled and are able to hold their form and technique over considerable distances. Their speed over a 2km regatta course is a whole different story, however a 4th place finish in junior fours behind Shiplake and Eton at Wallingford Regatta would suggest that there is a decent amount of pace picked up by this crew. This crew should have eyes set on the A final and whilst that is definitely achievable, a medal position is looking out of the picture due to the rest of the competitive field, who this Winchester four have lost to on previous occasions.
Royal Shrewsbury School
Could Shrewsbury be the underdogs in this category? A respectable 6th place finish at Schools Head of the River shows that their squad is made up of talented athletes who are powerful, well-drilled and who can move the boat with a great deal of skill and this result sets them up for a strong performance this regatta season. A recent win at Bedford Regatta shows that the athletes in this squad are able to prove themselves, and if they get it right on the day, I could see this four bringing up the rear of the A final on Sunday.
Radley College and Westminster School have shown a distinct lack of speed so far this season, and whilst they would normally be predicted to be finishing in the A final of championship events, with such a tough and merciless field of fours entered, I think the fours entered from these two clubs may struggle to be reaching their target of a position in the final on Sunday.
A Final Prediction:
St Pauls School- Gold
Molesey Boat Club- Silver
Shiplake College- Bronze
Eton College “K”
Abingdon School
Royal Shrewsbury School
Eton College “A”
Racing is truly unpredictable, and therefore something particularly unexpected could happen in terms of the results, overthrowing my prediction. With this being such a competitive field of crews entered, we should be presented with some really exciting racing this coming Sunday.
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