Winter Park Crew, USA vs Hinksey Sculling School
Right from the start, Winter Park Crew, USA owned this race. Their strong start gave them the push needed to take the lead as the crews emerged from the end of Temple Island. Hinksey Sculling School put pressure on the American rowers for the duration of the race, but as Winter Park came towards the enclosures with a clear water lead, Hinksey was running out of water. When asked about the pressure of returning to Henley Royal Regatta after racing in the final last year, the crew responded: ‘It feels like since we got so far last year and the team we raced at finals last year isn’t here (St Caths), I think that there is a target on our backs, everyone wants to take us down.’ This performance brings Winter Park to the spotlight of this competition, and their race against Melbourne Girls’ Grammar School., Australia will definitely be one to watch later in the week.
St Catherine’s School, Australia vs The Tideway Scullers’ School
Winter Park were unable to hold their record for long as yet another record has been set in this event, by St Catherine’s School, Australia. From the very beginning this race was theirs, and as The Tideway Scullers’ School pushed on behind them, St Catherine’s powered towards each marker. Halfway down the course as the cox turned to check on the Tideway crew behind, it became clear to every single rower that they were going to win. St Catherine’s crossed the line with a very impressive amount of clear water behind them and a strong confidence boost heading into the further rounds.
Sir William Perkins’s School vs Headington School
Both crews were incredibly strong as they flew off the start, and as Headington School started to draw out into the lead after emerging from behind Temple Island, Sir William Perkins’s School increased their rate and tried to hold on. The firm favourites for this race, after winning the National Schools’ Regatta at the end of May, Headington were cruising down the course, looking relaxed and powerful. As Sir William Perkins’s pushed forwards and attempted to close the gap between the two, it was Headington who eventually took the win.
Friday Previews
Headington School vs Henley RC
As rivalries exist, the Headington/ Henley battle is one of the purest of them all. Year after year both these clubs have dominated the UK junior women’s rowing circuit consistently finding themselves competing for top space. After winning both the National Schools’ Regatta and Henley Women’s Regatta this year, alongside having three athletes having won the PPCT back in 2021, this race will most likely, however, be a comfortable win for Headington, especially when considering they are racing athletes ranked 5-12 from Henley.
Winter Park vs Melbourne Girls GS, AUS
The scale and depth of this competition will be on display as we see the international showdown of Winter Park, USA vs Melbourne Girls GS, AUS. We can expect to see a tight race between the crews and I truly expect it to be a battle to the end. However, with last year’s finalists Winter Park bringing back 5 athletes, these girls will arguably bring the edge needed to lead them into Friday’s quarter-final races.
St Catherines School, AUS vs Deerfield Acadamy, USA
In what will be another international showdown, St Catherine’s School are set to take on Deerfield Academy in tomorrows racing. Despite both crews clearly owning their races today as clear testimentst to the strength and depth of their programmes it will be St Catherines that I back for the win. After all, you know they’ve got something kind of speed in the bank to set records in what was arguably an untesting race.
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