Hampton Small Boats Head is a highly anticipated event which is held on a relatively short course of around 3000m. Crews have already been flaunting their talent over the past couple of months and Hampton Small Boats Head is another event to do such a thing. The short course will allow for some great viewing. The OJ1x event has been the most fiercely contested event thus far into the season, with Star and Arrow dominating throughout. This is a great opportunity for other clubs to step up with Star and Arrow out of the picture.
Shiplake College BC
Shiplake have had a decent start to the season with a third placed-finish at Pairs Head for Brown being particularly notable. They will be looking to dominate this event – Brown is definitely capable of attaining a top five position. Raynor and the other Brown will also be striving to raise the stakes and take a seat in the Shiplake top eight and this will be a great platform for them to prove themselves. Norris and Nienow are, as far as I can see, yet to show their capabilities this year and therefore this will be a great opportunity for them.
Reading RC
Pratt is the lone entry for Reading and has already shown that he is a very strong sculler. He came 29th out of a stacked field of 72 scullers at Henley Long Distance Sculls and will definitely be bouncing off the back of that result. Pratt came three places ahead of Schomberg at Reading SBH, so Schomberg will be hot on his heels again here.
Lea RC
Powell and Den Dulk have had a phenomenal season thus far with a third place in the Junior Championship Quads at Fours Head and a win in the Junior Championship Doubles at Pairs Head. I surmise that Powell could win this event, with the boys from Windsor Boys School being their biggest challenge to overcome. Den Dulk also has the capability of winning this event, and should definitely be seen sitting in the top five.
The Windsor Boys School BC
After a win in the Fawley last season, the Windsor Boys School will be looking at showing their dominance in the winter months as a prelude for what is to come. Van Gelderen had a great result in the Championship Singles at the National Schools’ Regatta, placing eighth in the A final as a J16. Delaney recently won at Bedford in the J18 double but I am unsure as to who was his partner. Regardless of this, all three of the Windsor Boys scullers are capable of decimating their opposition, and could be fighting between themselves for the win.
Walton RC
Brew is the only entry from Walton this year. He came fifth in the Junior Championship Quad at Fours Head and will therefore be familiar with the Lea boys. The Walton set up always provides strong athletes, with the Fours Head result proving this. Brew should be looking for the top five. I am excited to seeing how he fares against the abundance of strong athletes in this category.
Kingston Grammar school BC
Schomberg is yet again the lone entry for Kingston Grammar. He came 15th at Reading SBH in a Star and Arrow subjugated field which is not a result to overlook. This smaller field will give him room to build on that performance.
Others
I could not find any results from Suphi from Hampton as well as Benton from Weybridge, the same applies for Hayes and Whawell from Nottinghamshire County Rowing Association. I’m confident that they will offer an enthralling performance.
Predictions
I predict Delaney to win, with Van Gelderen to come in just behind him. Powell and Den Dulk will follow closely with Brown from Shiplake sliding into the fifth spot. This is just a rough prediction and such is the nature of singles racing, I’m sure that I will be proved wrong. Pratt and Brew have had great results thus far and will definitely replicate them here.
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