Kickstarting the new season of long distance rowing events, Chester Long Distance Sculls is an event which enables athletes to showcase the skills they have learnt from the past season to a very expectant audience. This year’s draw is dominated by the Northwich RC junior girls, so it will be very interesting to see how the racing pans out, given the rather small draw.
Northwich RC – Cushen
In the relatively short time that Ellie Cushen has been racing, she has racked up some very impressive results. After reaching the quarter finals in the quad at 2018 Henley Women’s Regatta, Cushen was selected for a race-off for the crew formation for the GB junior squad, and her success here led to racing in the 8+ which recently took first place at the Coupe de la Jeunesse in Cork. Cushen also raced in the single scull at this year’s Home International Regatta, taking first place and helping to secure the overall win for England. With such a strong season behind her, it looks as if Cushen is in a very secure position going into this new season of racing.
Warrington RC – Stanhope
At the 2017 British Rowing Junior Championships, Ella Stanhope took silver in the A final of the WJ16 4x. This year, she produced a similarly impressive performance, taking silver yet again though this time in the WJ18 single scull. Stanhope also came 24th in the recent GB trials at Boston.
Northwich RC – Almond
At BRJC 2017, Charlotte Almond was another member of the composite WJ16 4x which took silver in the A final. Almond took part in the GB trials in February, coming 38th overall in the U18 girls 1x and 11th overall in the doubles event, following this success with a silver medal in the WJ17 4x at this year’s Junior Sculling Head, and getting to the heats of 2018 Henley Women’s Regatta.
Northwich RC – Cooney
Yet another Northwich rower, Rachel Cooney is another crew member of the composite 4x which raced at BRJC 2017. In addition to this, at the 2017 National School’s Regatta, Cooney competed in the J16 girls 4x which took first place in the A final, a very impressive result.
Nottingham and Union RC – Grant Clapham, Page
Both Ella Grant Clapham and Katie Page raced in the W4x- which took first place at Trentham Regatta and the W8+ which won at Burton Sprint Regatta this year. Katie Page also added to these accolades with a further win in the women’s double at Trentham Regatta. In the 2017 season, both girls raced in the WIM3 4x which won at the Head of the Trent. It seems that the girls are of a similar standard, so will be interesting to see how they fare.
Predictions:
The draw also includes another Northwich rower, Heath, as well as Carey from York City RC, though there is no past racing history for either of these competitors. I would imagine that going into the race, Ellie Cushen is most likely candidate for first place, and would put second and third as a toss up between Charlotte Almond and Ella Stanhope.
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