Most clubs are now well established into their first training block of the season so this event gives athletes the chance to see how they are faring and allows coaches a chance to see how their squad is performing at this early stage of the season. There is a reasonably small field of nine scullers with most of them being from King’s School Chester.
King’s School Chester
A strong entry of four scullers from Kings Chester competing on home water with a chance to lay down an early marker. From what I can find both Irvine and Roberts were part of the 1st VIII last year that prequalifed for HRR. Despite falling to a strong Winchester crew on day one this nevertheless bodes well for these athletes to be racing at that standard when they were J16s. Parsonage was a part of the 2nd VIII who took part in the qualifier for the Temple so again a strong athlete. Meakin didn’t race a lot last summer from what I can see but he may well spring a surprise come race day especially on home water.
Trentham BC
Two entries here from Trentham and it looks like they are brothers. Parrish Glen who I assume to be Glen Parish competed at the J16 GB trials in February finishing a creditable 19th place in a very high standard field. Parrish John is the other entry and he raced alongside his brother in the J16 4x at both the Junior sculling head and NSR where they made the A/B semi-finals. Clearly a strong athlete as well.
Hollingworth Lake
Heywood is a sculler in strong form at this early stage of the season. A commanding 19 second win over 4500m at York Autumn Sculls suggests a sculler in good nick this early in the season and I expect that there will be more to come this weekend.
Trafford RC
Smith looks as though he entered the sculling festival over the summer. This is a rigorous test of ones ability to master a single so he could pose a threat to fellow competitors this weekend. However, I cannot find any other results for him which may suggest a lack of experience in a single or perhaps just a lack of competing experience in one.
Agecroft
Sourcing information on Phillips has been a challenge. Nonetheless, he comes from a club who tend to produce competitive crews, so I am expecting a good showing from this sculler with the training he will have had.
Predictions
This is a tough one to call. Whilst it is only a small field it is one full of quality and desire to lay down a strong early season marker. My gut says that with his GB trials experience Glen Parrish will take the win followed by Heywood of Hollingworth Lake with Kings Chester – Irvine 3rd.
BowLoader
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