The Diamond Jubilee Cup is for Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta. It is the only event for Junior Women at the Regatta so, as a result, there are 54 entries to the event. This number has to be reduced to only 20 crews. Out of these, 43 crews are required to qualify for the Diamond Jubilee Cup. Eleven crews have prequalified for the event leaving the crews required to qualify fighting to gain one of the nine remaining places. The crews that have prequalified for the event are Frankfurter Rudergesellschaft Germania 1869 e.V. Germany, Gloucester Rowing Club, Headington School ‘A’, Henley Rowing Club ‘A’, Kinross Wolaroi School Australia, Latymer Upper School ‘A’, Lea Rowing Club, Loreto Mandeville Hall Torak Australia, Marlow Rowing Club ‘A’, Surbiton High School and The Tideway Scullers’ School ‘A’.
As a result of poor weather this season, many local regattas were cancelled meaning there is a dearth of results. Most of the main regattas went ahead, which a lot of the crews looking to qualify took part in. There are some crews for which it is hard to judge their calibre because of the lack of results, and for this reason, there are numerous crews who look to be unknown entities coming into the qualifying races for Henley Royal Regatta.
Latymer Upper School
Latymer has proved that they have a large junior women’s squad, entering four boats into the Diamond Jubilee Cup. Latymer only entered their ‘A’ and ‘B’ crew into the junior quadruple sculls at Henley Women’s Regatta, both qualified and as a result of this, their ‘A’ crew has prequalified for the Diamond Jubilee Cup. At National Schools’ Regatta the ‘A’ crew finished 2nd in the B Final with the 7th fastest time overall out of the Ch G4x boats. This was the only crew entered at NSR and there are few notable results at large events for their ‘C’ and ‘D’ crews. Saying this, their ‘B’ crew came 9th in the time trial at Henley Women’s Regatta against a large field of 35 crews. They were the fastest crew not to prequalify for the Diamond Jubilee Cup and were drawn to race against the eventual winners, The Tideway Scullers’ School, (who have prequalified) meaning that they did not make it through the first heat, only losing out by ¾ length. Their strong result at Henley Women’s Regatta shows that Latymer’s ‘B’ crew are a force to be reckoned with and are likely to do well at HRR qualifiers on Friday.
York City Rowing Club
York City has two entries, their ‘A’ and ‘B’ crews. At the major events of the season they have only fielded their ‘A’ crew, which has had multiple strong results. A likely disappointing 23rd finish in the National Schools’ Regatta time trial meant that they did not progress through to the semi-finals. The girls came back to compete at Henley Women’s Regatta where they proved their competence and strength in the boat, finishing 10th in the time trial. They were the second fastest boat not to prequalify, just behind Latymer ‘B’. Their ‘A’ boat looks set to perform well on Friday on the back of their strong result at Henley Women’s Regatta.
Henley Rowing Club
Henley has four boats entered, one of which has prequalified. Always a strong club to contend with, Henley have confirmed this with impressive performances throughout the season. Only their ‘A’ crew (which has prequalified) raced at National Schools’ Regatta where they won the Ch G4x event. The same crew was the only crew to be entered to Henley Women’s Regatta where they finished first in the time trial. At Metropolitan Regatta, both their ‘A’ and ‘B’ boats raced. The ‘A’ boat placed first ahead of The Tideway Scullers’ School and Marlow, while the ‘B’ boat placed fourth ahead of the two Wallingford crews who will be aiming to qualify on Friday. The ‘A’ and ‘B’ crews scratched at Wallingford Regatta and there are very few results from the ‘C’ and ‘D’ crews throughout the season, suggesting that they have had little racing experience together and may be newly formed units. Henley has always had a strong junior women’s squad and this season have managed to have both a top placing quad and four. The focus appears to have been on these two boats which suggests the ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ crews may struggle to qualify, although their have been some performances showing that the ‘B’ boat has some speed.
Sydney Rowing Club, Australia
Sydney Rowing Club is the only international club that must qualify for the event. International crews are always somewhat unknown entities as there are few, if any, results against other home crews entered. Last year, they qualified for the event, but it is unclear whether this is the same crew. The club as a whole is very successful, with multiple members being part of the Australian Rowing team. They are likely to be a strong crew with a chance of qualifying having travelled from Australia to Britain to compete. This is a crew to watch out for.
Tideway Scullers’ School
Having won this event at Henley Women’s Regatta, Tideway Scullers’ School’s ‘A’ crew has prequalified for the event. Their ‘B’ crew appears to also be a competitive crew, coming sixth at Wallingford Regatta. In the afternoon, two crews raced in the Women’s Challenge Quadruple Sculls. Their ‘B’ crew placed second to a very fast Henley crew (which has prequalified) and their ‘A’ crew placed sixth. At National Schools’ Regatta they missed out on a place in a semi-final, coming 17th in the time trial. They look to be a strong crew but may narrowly miss out on qualifying due to the high standard of crews competing for the nine spots this year.
Emanuel School
This appears to be a strong junior squad, fielding what looks to be a fast quad. Early in the season, an Emanuel School quad came fifth at Wallingford Regatta. Their quad did not race at National Schools’ Regatta; however, they had both a strong coxed four and eight which finished fourth in the A final and third in the B final respectively. After coming 15th in the time trial at Henley Women’s Regatta they qualified but were beaten in their first race by Surbiton High School (who have prequalified).
Sir William Perkins’s School
With three crews entered, their ‘A’ boat appears to be the one that could be a competitive boat and be in with a chance of qualifying. They had one entry into Ch G4x at National Schools’ Regatta. The quad came 20th in the time trial meaning that they did not progress any further. At Wallingford Regatta, back at the start of the season, a strong row led them to finish fourth in the final. They raced at Reading Amateur Regatta in Women’s Quads where early on they were beaten by a very fast Reading University crew. Currently, Sir William Perkins have a very strong double which won at Henley Women’s Regatta. If this double makes up part of the quad, then this will be a competitive boat.
Glasgow Academy
Glasgow Academy has one crew aiming to qualify for the Diamond Jubilee Cup at National Schools’ Regatta, Glasgow Academy had two quads racing. Their ‘A’ boat came 13th in the time trial so narrowly missed out on progressing through to the semi-finals. Their ‘B’ boat was more successful, progressing through the semi-final into the B final where they finished third. Anna Buchanan who was stroke of the ‘B’ quad raced a Ch G1x on the Saturday of National Schools’ Regatta finished first in the B final which was the seventh fastest time overall. A lack of other results against other crews hoping to qualify makes it hard to predict this quads speed but, it looks as though it has the potential to be strong given their impressive performance at National Schools’ Regatta.
Lady Eleanor Holles School
There are three entries from Lady Eleanor Holles, all of which raced at Henley Women’s Regatta but none of them qualified. At National Schools’ Regatta, they only entered one crew which came 12th in the time trial making them the final crew to progress through to the semi-final. They did not start their semi-final, so it is unclear of the strength of the crew over the full 2000m. They all look to be crews of even strength, finishing with reasonably close times in the Henley Women’s Regatta time trial. None of them look to be strong enough to gain one of the remaining nine spots in the Diamond Jubilee Cup. Saying that, the ‘A’ quad may have the speed to surprise.
Wycliffe Junior Rowing Club
This crew from Wycliffe did not compete at National Schools’ Regatta or Henley Women’s Regatta meaning that there are few results to compare with other crews looking to qualify. They raced at Reading Amateur Regatta where they came first in WJ18 4x. In the final they beat what appears to be Latymer Upper School’s ‘B’ crew, having already beaten what appears to be The Lady Eleanor Holles School’s ‘B’ crew. It looks as though Latymer and The Lady Eleanor Holles School’s top crews were racing in the senior events in a bid to prequalify at Henley Royal Regatta. Judging by the calibre of the two crews mentioned that this Wycliffe crew beat, it suggests that they could be competitive and potentially gain a place in the Diamond Jubilee Cup.
Nottinghamshire County Rowing Association
This has been a strong crew throughout the whole season. Most recently, this crew qualified for Henley Women’s Regatta, having finished 11th in the time trial. This club has a notable strong junior women’s double which gained a silver medal in both the double and pair events at National Schools’ Regatta. If these two girls make up part of the quad this could be a very strong boat and provide some stiff competition.
Bedford Modern School
Two crews are entered in a bid to qualify for the Diamond Jubilee Cup. It is their ‘A’ crew that looks as though they have some speed. This was the only crew to be entered at National Schools’ Regatta where they came 15th in the time trial; therefore, missing out on a spot in a semi-final. They appear to have picked up some speed in the run up to Henley Women’s Regatta, finishing 13th in the time trial allowing them to qualify. However, they raced Marlow Rowing Club (who have prequalified) and were beaten so they progressed no further through the regatta.
Hinksey Sculling School
Hinksey have only entered one crew into the Diamond Jubilee Cup. They had two racing at National Schools’ Regatta, their ‘B’ crew were a long way off progressing through to the semi-finals, finishing 33rd. Their ‘A’ crew was more successful, finishing tenth in the time trial and ultimately fourth in the B final. The crew aiming to qualify appears to be made up of three of the girls from the ‘A’ quad and then one from the ‘B’ quad (assuming it is the same crew that raced at Henley Women’s Regatta). At Henley Women’s Regatta this quad placed 14th in the time trial, losing out to Headington School (who have prequalified) in a very fast heat. This crew has the potential to do well and may qualify on Friday.
Marlow Rowing Club
Marlow’s ‘A’ boat has been a force to reckon with throughout the season, concluding in them prequalifying for this event. Their ‘B’ crew is aiming to qualify on Friday and join their counterparts in the Diamond Jubilee cup; however, they may lack the boat speed to do so. At Metropolitan Regatta, Marlow’s ‘B’ boat placed third which was ahead of Henley’s ‘B’ crew. Marlow’s ‘A’ boat did not start at the event. At Henley Women’s Regatta, the ‘A’ boat got through to the final, losing out to The Tideway Scullers’ School. Meanwhile, their ‘B’ boat appears to have not started. Only the ‘A’ boat competed at National Schools’ Regatta. With few results to go on, it is hard to judge this boat’s speed.
This event is packed with strong crews, all of whom have had strong results throughout the season. My prediction for the crews who look likely to be competitive and qualify for the eight spots remaining in the Diamond Jubilee Cup are:
Latymer Upper School ‘B’
Bedford Modern School ‘A’
York City Rowing Club ‘A’
Emanuel School
Nottinghamshire County Rowing Association
Glasgow Academy
The Lady Eleanor Holles School ‘A’
Hinksey Sculling School
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