Update: Since this preview has been written, Hampton Small Boats Head has been cancelled.
After the disappointing cancellation of Fours Head, there are high expectations for Hampton Small Boats Head to provide exciting racing, and I’m certain the Open Junior 16 quad category will deliver just that. With many old rivals from last season once again pitted against each other, I do not doubt that this race will be one of the most competitive of the day.
Hampton School Boat Club
With the home advantage, I expect that Hampton School Boat Club will be one of the fastest Junior 16 quads of the day. Hampton are boasting an impressive Junior 16 cohort this season, with several members recently racing at GB Under 19 trials. Hampton School Boat Club are not short of talent nor experience, these boys are coming off the back of an impressive season, taking silver in both the Junior 15 first and second eights at the National Schools’ Regatta. The Hampton boys will certainly be looking to continue their hot streak this weekend.
Wallingford Rowing Club
Another club that saw a substantial 23/24 season, Wallingford Rowing Club will be sure to put the pressure on this weekend. A club with a history, and current array, of talented rowers, this season’s Junior 16 squad has some big expectations to live up to, but I believe they are more than capable. These boys are well seasoned in quads, securing third place at the National Schools’ Regatta in May this year and fourth at the British Rowing Junior and Senior Club Championships in July. With such notable experience, I have no doubt they will be striving to finish at the top.
Claires Court School Boat Club
A school with a wealth of experience, Claires Court School Boat Club are sure to be one of the front runners in this race. Their boys Junior 16 squad this season in particular flaunts an impressive record in quadruple sculls, placing fifth at the National Schools’ Regatta and seventh at the Junior British Championships in the Open Junoir 15 quads category. This sets the two Claire’s Court School Boat Club crews up to be tough competition, and whilst I predict they will be pushing for a podium finish, I doubt they will be rival for first place quite this early in the season.
Henley Rowing Club
Henley Rowing Club are known for excellence in both sculling and sweeping, and their Junior 16 boys demonstrated this consistently last season. Henley Rowing Club finished narrowly behind Claires Court School Boat Club to take second place in B-final for Open Junior 15 quads at the National School’s Regatta. They then went on to stride ahead of Claires Court at the Junior British Championships. With a plethora of experience, in both the coaching team and athletes, I’m certain Henley Rowing Club will be keen to continue improving and demonstrate they can now take on the Wallingford Rowing Club crew they faced last season.
Predictions:
I predict that Wallingford Rowing Club will come out on top, closely followed by Henley Rowing Club. Despite Hampton School Boat Club’s unmatched results last season, their success in this race will be highly dependent on their ability to seamlessly transition from sweeping to sculling, and for that reason, I predict they will finish narrowly behind Wallingford. Whilst I doubt that Claires Court School Boat Club will have the speed to be fighting for first place quite yet, they are certainly not to be underestimated.
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