With nearly 40 entrants this year, the Junior Open Quads will surely be the spectacle it always is at Fours Head. After last year’s race was unfortunately cancelled, the crews venturing onto the unpredictable Tideway will be eager to perform, and the competition will be fierce. With the previous season featuring a wide variety of crews battling right at the top, it will be fascinating to see which clubs are back and ready to fight at the pinnacle of junior rowing.
Leander Club
The current title holders of this event, although admittedly from all the way back in 2022, Leander Club will be looking to retain their spot. However, they do not come into this regatta the favourites, as their lineup this year features only one member of their previous top quad, bow seat Will Eaton, and except Max Mustoo, who raced in Leander’s second quad last season, this crew seems relatively new to the club’s pink vests. This does not write them out of contention just yet, but with such a fresh boat, I do not see them taking home the win, with so many top-tier entrants to battle.
The Windsor Boys’ School Boat Club
Time and time again, The Windsor Boys’ School Boat Club proves to the rowing community that they are the gold standard for junior sculling. Rounding off last season with a convincing win at Henley Royal Regatta in The Fawley Challenge Cup, they are surely the favourites here. Not only that, but the club has entered three crews into the event, showcasing the unbelievable depth of their squad currently. This is further backed up by the fact that the crews have been seeded first, third and fourth. With that said, their top crew has changed considerably since last season, with two members replaced. Regardless, I doubt this will significantly impact them, especially considering these replacements come from last season’s Junior 16 quad, which claimed the win at National Schools’ Regatta 2024. So, I can confidently say you will be seeing at least one crew at the top, or very near it.
Wycliffe Junior Rowing Club
Wycliffe Junior Rowing Club is not a club known to be fighting at the top of this event, with no junior men’s quad seen at all last season. However, this could be the year that changes. Headed up by Max Fullman, who claimed bronze in the Championship Single at the National Schools’ Regatta earlier this year, they could be a serious threat if the rest of the crew can back him up. In my opinion, they are an outfit that you should keep an eye on, though I am uncertain at this stage if they have the pedigree or experience to take the win. Yet, if they can follow in the footsteps of their close neighbours, Wycliffe College and their breathtaking girl’s quad, which went undefeated all last season, they cannot be underestimated.
Hinksey Sculling School
Five years ago, if the rowing community could’ve seen what Hinksey Sculling School has accomplished these last few seasons, it would’ve been simply unbelievable. And yet the ‘community club’ from Oxford has done it, making appearances at the finals and semis in their last two runs at Henley Royal Regatta. However, with their success, they can no longer be considered the underdogs, so top-tier results should be expected. With only one member of their top quad, Judah Turnbull, returning this season, it is time for the younger members of their squad to step up. This step up comes in the form of Lewie Harris and James Ely-Ford, two members of the Junior 16 quad last year, which finished second at National Schools’ Regatta. If they have what it takes to enter the big leagues, this quad should be closely watched and could finish in the top three, if not higher.
Tideway Scullers School
As the only crew on this list with home-water advantage, Tideway Scullers School should be expected to perform. It was during head season last year when they shockingly took the win at the Schools’ Head of the River Race, and I wouldn’t cross a repeat of that off the cards just yet. Although their crew this year seems to have changed fairly considerably, that is not yet a sign that they have lost form. At Henley Long Distance Sculls earlier this month, in the Championship Doubles, Tideway Scullers School drew first place with Leander Club, with their ‘B’ double finishing third, just in front of Leander ‘B’. This is an excellent sign for things to come from the club, and I think a close battle could be seen between them and Leander, come race day.
Prediction
For the win, it is just too difficult to look past the might of Windsor. An upset could come from Hinksey or Tideway, but it seems unlikely. Therefore, for me, the order would be Windsor, Hinksey, Tideway, Leander, and then Wycliffe, although I also wouldn’t put it past Windsor ‘B’ to be right in that mix.
About The Author
Discover more from JRN
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
