Reviews
Marlow Rowing Club v Tideway Scullers School
Going into this race, the favourites to win could have been either one of these crews based on the performance of Marlow at NSR and Tideway Scullers throughout the week, and the start seemed very compliant with this. It was level at the End of the Island, with Marlow looking tidier than Tideway who seemed to be struggling with their timing and settling onto a rate. Fully settled and comfortable in their rhythm, Marlow began to pull away leaving Tideway in clear water by the Barrier. Marlow looked cool, calm and composed, storming down the course highlighting the true success of Marlow’s junior sculling program this year. Tideway Scullers tried to pull it back but just couldn’t compete with the supremacy displayed by the red crew of Marlow who had coped with the changing wind patterns to leave TSS in their wake. Marlow managed their rate perfectly to drop slightly at the end to sustain energy for tomorrow’s race and cross the line with a two and three-quarter length lead.
Wycliffe College ‘A’ v Wycliffe College ‘B’
Perhaps the top sculling program in the junior women’s scene have reached the pinnacle in junior racing by putting their first and second quads through to the semi-final in the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup. The calibre of both of these crews was demonstrated down the course, as Wycliffe ‘A’ dominated right off the start over an extremely successful second boat. With all the rowers in the A boat having rowed at Henley before to varying success, it really would have been a feat for the two returners in the B boat to overturn the squads standings for all the season. However with Henley Women’s wins in both the A quad and stroke of the B quad winning the junior singles, showcase the depth of talent available in the squad even if the A quad controlled the race from the starting strokes. The ‘A’ quad extended their winning margin to a maximum of five and a half lengths at the three-quarter mile mark before dropping the rate and cruising to victory with a final verdict of three and a quarter lengths, booking the A quad their ticket to the final where they are the favourites to win.
Final Preview
Wycliffe College ‘A’ v. Marlow Rowing Club
After an overthrow of the reigning champion, Marlow join the favourites Wycliffe College ‘A’ in the Final of the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup. Wycliffe, the national champions, rematch the second place finishers at NSR in their quest to claim ‘The Triple’ after winning at Schools’ Head, National Schools and now looking at Henley Royal, with Henley Women’s thrown in there too. They are met by silver medallists, Marlow, who had a dominant display in their semi final and also make history being the first club or school to reach the final in the Diamond Jubilee and the Fawley in the same year. With a strong race under their belt today, Wycliffe ‘A’ will be confident to carry forward their momentum into the final stages of the regatta in tomorrow’s final. After their dominating season, it really is Wycliffe’s race to lose.
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