The first event of the famously rigorous, year-long U19 GB trialling process is upon us. This Saturday, 16th November 2024, hundreds of junior athletes will be racing along a stretch of the River Witham in Boston, Lincolnshire. This event is highly anticipated as it is the first chance for these young athletes to place themselves among the best British Rowing offers, in a singles race, the fairest boat class for individual comparison. Everyone racing has the aim of giving their name recognition. A sharp bend in the river, around 2km in, and two long straights on either side – it is not the most fiendishly difficult of courses; however, steering is likely to still be a large factor in competitors’ success, or demise. Of course, the breadth of talent on display means serious contenders may be left out of this article, however, here are some athletes to look out for:
Scullers
Max Fullman (Wycliffe College Boat Club)
Max Fullman is a highly talented sculler. As a J16, he came third last year in the championship singles category at National Schools’ Regatta. He competed in the double at Coupe de La Jeunesse and has had many moments of success through his sculling career. His technical prowess should prove an infinitely valuable asset, particularly if the conditions are not perfectly favourable on Saturday.
Joe Wellington (Windsor Boys School, The Boat Club)
Joe Wellington is another very accomplished sculler. He competed at the Munich International Junior Regatta last year and will be looking to set the standard for this year in Boston. He is a technical, powerful and sharp competitor who should be taken seriously for those top few spots this weekend.
Fraser Jones (Maidenhead Rowing Club)
A sculler who has already been around the domestic block, Fraser Jones has had an excellent start to the 24/25 season in winning the open junior sculls at Henley Long Distance Sculls. He raced in Maidenhead’s top quad last year, winning the B-final before qualifying the boat for The Fawley Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta.
Sweep Rowers
Alp Karadogan (St Paul’s School Boat Club)
Alp Karadogan from St Paul’s is a rower we cannot ignore. A two-time winner of The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup and a world champion at the 2023 U19 World Rowing Championships, his power and length will make him very difficult to compete against.
Patrick Wild (St Paul’s School Boat Club)
Crew-mates with Karadogan in the St Paul’s first eight, Patrick Wild is another fantastic rowing talent. On top of this, St Paul’s will have some impressive J17 and J16 talent on display. Despite their focus on sweeping, there is no doubt that this school’s athletes have the versatility to challenge even the very best scullers on Saturday.
Edward Bayfield (Abingdon School Boat Club)
Edward Bayfield is a fresh talent off the block from Abingdon. Having won gold in the eight at the 2024 U19 World Rowing Championships, he certainly has a keen racing spirit and will be keen to lay down an early marker. After a tricky few years for the Abingdon programme, Bayfield will be keen to repeat the feats of former Roysse schoolboy Tom Digby, who won gold in the men’s eight at the Paris Olympic Games.
Leo Robertson (Hampton School)
A star player in the Hampton J16 eight that performed so well last year – finishing fourth at the National Schools’ Regatta before going on to qualify for The Temple Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta – Leo Robertson will have his sights set firmly on making the junior team in 2025. He already has international colours, having raced for Great Britain at the GB-France match last summer. A product of the new regime that Colin Greenaway and Josh Butler are building at Hampton, this talented athlete will be looking to stake his claim early.
Final Thoughts
The Early IDs are a crucial step for these young athletes to catch the eye of GB rowing selectors. There is a mix of incredibly established talent down to promising J16s, all aspiring to be selected for international racing later in the season. In my opinion, this race will be won by Alp Karadogan, who, despite not having the same primary focus on sculling that other competitors might have, will triumph due to his power and racing experience on the world stage. The following places are a tight call, with a mix of J17 contenders, including Max Fullman, and established J18 rowers, such as Patrick Wild. It will all be up for grabs this weekend.
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