The first of a series of regattas held in Durham, the City Regatta is no doubt highly anticipated as one of the first opportunities of the season for these northern clubs to really prove themselves against their neighbours.
Durham School – Gledson, Heslop, Bradley
Durham School historically does very well at this regatta. The squad took home wins across a huge range of categories at both the Durham Regatta in both 2016 and 2017, so it seems likely that they will replicate success of this standard this year as well. Julia Gledson was part of the women’s IM3 quad and the WJ16 double which won at Hexham Regatta last summer, and was also chosen to participate in a training session run by Durham University Boat Club earlier this year. Meanwhile, Heslop won both the WJ16 1x event at the 2017 Chester-le-Street Regatta by three lengths and the WJ16 1x at last year’s Durham Regatta. These past results, and the fact that they will be racing on familiar water, suggest that the girls will perform very well this weekend.
Tyne United – Fraser, Robinson, Holliday
Another club whose junior squad has been very successful over the past few seasons, Tyne United’s girls are also expected to provide strong competition this weekend. Lucy Fraser, Hannah Holliday and Dulcie Robinson all raced in the junior women’s quad which took first place at the 2017 JIRR trials, Tyne Head, Ponteland Junior Head (where the club was also the recipient of the Victor Ludorum prize) and Chester-le-Street Regatta. Fraser and Robinson also raced in the WJ15 double scull at the 2017 British Rowing Junior Championships, and Robinson was successful in the Year 11 girl’s category at the Newcastle Junior Indoor Rowing Championships. Given that each of the girls have proven a strong ability in a crew boat, it will be very interesting to see if they are as successful in the single scull.
Yarm School – Mortimer, Wake
Yarm School is becoming increasingly recognised as one of the top rowing schools in the country. With multiple alumni – including Kat Copeland – racing at GB and Olympic level, the school has proven its ability to coach and row at a top level. In 2016, Wake won the WJ15 1x at Durham Regatta, and raced in the 8x at the 2016 South Yorkshire Head.
Bradford Grammar School – Taylor
Perhaps less well known than some of the other clubs with crews entered for this regatta, Bradford Grammar School has nonetheless taken part in lots of races so far this season. Seven junior boys represented the club at the Junior Interregional Regatta, contributing to the result of 10th place for Yorkshire overall, and crews of all ages have managed to bag good results at a range of head races and regattas this season.
Talkin Tarn – Lyall
There is no information on Lyall’s past races, and very little on the junior squad as a whole. However, the squad did compete at the 2017 South Hylton Long Distance Sculls, the Durham Amateur BC long distance sculls and the Tees Rowing Club Head Race, with success from some of the junior boys. It will be interesting to see how Lyall fares when faced with such strong competition.
Predictions
I would imagine that the top spots will be taken by any of the Tyne United Girls, with Heslop and Gledson also in with a strong chance of winning.
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