Approaching the peak of the head season, clubs flock to Hampton to display their progress. With many of the earlier head races cancelled due to torrential downpours and burst banks, over 40 Junior 15 quads will race down the 3000-metre course, undoubtedly desperate to showcase their speed. At an event that was also cancelled the previous year, crews from around the south of England will look to get times on the score sheet and further build upon their racing foundation.
Hampton School Boat Club
Unleashing an armada of 12 quads onto their home stretch, Hampton School Boat Club’s multitude of entries would be hard to miss. In 2022 Hampton took the crown in this event, with having their other crews entered producing a wide range of results. Just two weeks ago, Hampton produced a strong result at Teddington Head, with their fastest boat placing fourth in a competitive field.
Brentford Boat Club
Formed in 2023, Brentford Boat Club are far newer to junior rowing than most of their opponents, but this hasn’t affected their speed. A third place finish at the 2024 Oarsport Junior Sculling Head set them on the scene, and this was proven again in the summer, with a fourth place finish at National Schools’ Regatta, just missing out on silverware. More recently at British Rowing Junior and Senior Club Championships, this quad found the bronze, showing what this crew can do at top form.
Wallingford Rowing Club
With their home sculling head cancelled, Wallingford Rowing Club will want to prove that they are crew who will compete at the top end this season. The last Junior 15 crew from Wallingford boasted a successful season and this crew will look to do the exact same. Wallingford also have the advantage of experience, as they are one of the only crews who raced solely in quads throughout the Junior 14 season, unlike the other threee crews mentioned, who competed in octuples for the majority of last season.
King’s School Ely Boat Club
King’s School Ely Boat Club produced a strong result at the last Oarsport Junior Sculling Head, where their quad placed sixth, and the octuple securing ninth in a highly competitive field of junior scullers. Continuing this trend at National Schools’ Regatta they narrowly missed out on the A-final by just over half a second in the octuple. Not always at the forefront of junior rowing, King’s School Ely have really shown talent within this year group, which can definitely be carried forward to this year.
Prediction
The usual inconsistency of Junior 15 rowing that makes it so exciting makes it equally hard to predict. Upsets are familiar, and surprising winners are just as frequent; this race could go to any entries. It would be impossible to ignore Hampton School Boat Club’s cohort of crews, but Wallingford Rowing Club never fails to put out a competitive junior crew. Brentford Boat Club and King’s School Ely Boat Club will both be hungry to make a statement. Hampton is the favourite, but there’s no reason any other crew can’t overturn that.
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