Hampton Head is often the first race back after the Christmas break that sees a mass entry from most of the top clubs and schools across the country. However, this year the Op Sch/Jun Eights category only sees a fairly disappointing ten entries. Perhaps this is due to the poor weather and water conditions that have been prevalent in the last couple of months- with some boat clubs pre-empting a possible cancellation and choosing to enter crews elsewhere. If this is the case they may have been right- as most of the Thames is currently on red or yellow boards- and with further rain forecast in the week it is entirely possible that the event is cancelled. Although many of the larger players in the junior rowing scene have either decided to split their entries between Hampton and other events, or go somewhere else entirely (Wycliffe Head appears a popular choice), the category should still present some exciting and close racing over the 3000m course.
Hampton School
As hosts of an event racing on your home stretch Hampton will clearly go into the weekend with a slight mental advantage – which could make up the small difference between a win and a loss over this relatively short 3k course. Despite a fairly disappointing 2018/19 season that culminated in Hampton losing on the Wednesday of Henley, they have come back faster and stronger this year. Since returning from Christmas, they have managed a 7th at Eton’s invitation only BASHER event, before placing 5th at Quintin Head last weekend- coming in ten seconds behind winners Shiplake, and only three seconds behind second placed Teddies. This result places them in an extremely strong position- and looking at the rest of the entry- they are certain to do extremely well, if not win.
Norwich School
Norwich have barely appeared this season- racing at virtually nothing major at all, choosing to miss both Fours Head before Christmas, and Quintin Head last weekend. The only major results we have are those for Pairs Head- which were pretty average, with the entries coming in a fair way behind the winning junior crews. This means that apart from their general reputation- and their 5th in the B-Final at NSR all the way back in May, I have very little to go on. Despite this- whilst I don’t think they’ll be the slowest down the course by a long way, they’re unlikely to be quite up to the speed of Hampton or KCS.
Molesey BC
Despite being one of the largest and most successful clubs in the country Molesey has never been particularly active on the junior scene, especially in the eight. Like a few boat clubs- perhaps partly due to the weather- they have barely raced this season, giving me almost nothing to go on. However, I simply cannot see Molesey doing particularly well; as since their extremely high performing four of the 2017/18 season with the likes of Mikey Dalton and Theo Darlow, they have not produced any especially impressive crews.
King’s College School
KCS have really been on the rise in recent years, and have already had a pretty successful season. Back in October their 1st Eight made the trek across the pond to race at the Head of the Charles, managing an extremely respectable 6th in the Youth 8+ category, coming in about 15 seconds behind St Paul’s, who had also made the trip. They then had an absolute cracker of a Fours Head, winning the Junior Coxless Fours category by an absolutely enormous 40 second margin. The athletes from KCS will certainly be hungry for another victory at the weekend, demonstrated by their close margin to the victors last weekend at Quintin- and will probably be the most likely to challenge the hosts for the win.
Other Crews
Dulwich have entered an eight, but I think that they’re unlikely to be challenging for the podium, as their results so far this season do not spell a particularly promising boat, with their top crew finishing a fairly average 5th in Band 2 Coxed Fours back at Fours Head. Bedford Modern have also sent a crew, but having been beaten by Hampton by almost a minute at Quintin Head- are again unlikely to be finishing in the upper end of the category. 1863 RC are in the same boat, having also been beaten by over a minute at Quintin Head. Other than that, Kings Canterbury, Bryanston and Canford have all decided to send crews- but frankly I can see none of them being anywhere close to Hampton or KCS.
Prediction
I think that the top three of Hampton Head is fairly open and shut this year (if it isn’t cancelled), with Hampton, KCS and Norwich comprising the podium. However, whilst Norwich are perhaps likely to place third, it could be very close between the other two. If I had to call it, I would back Hampton for the win, closely followed by KCS.
MarginalGainz
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