Reviews
Hinksey v. Los Gatos
A rematch of last year’s semi-final, in which Los Gatos went blasting out to try and gain an advantage over last year’s finalists, catching the water as they did rowed. The End of the Island showed a dead level start for both crews and it seemed to remain that way for the next minute of the race. In the wind, Hinksey with their technical sharpness, were able to start walking away from the Americans. By the enclosures though, Los Gatos’s fate was sealed. Hinksey looked clean, despite the conditions, and brought the rate down resulting in a victory of two and a half lengths up.
Whitemarsh ‘A’ v. Marlow R.C
With both Whitemarsh and Marlow getting off cleanly, sticking to their stations, it was anyones to take. Whitemarsh however, managed to position themselves close to a length ahead of their UK competition. By Fawley both crews had drifted towards the middle station with Whitemarsh still managing to hold the Marlow crew off. Through Remenham though the Marlow crew dug deep managing to move back on their opposition. Marlow clearly injected with confidence after moving back on the crew from Whitemarsh allowed them to move right through them during the enclosure and by the progress board were sitting two thirds of a length up. As Whitemarsh started their sprint, Marlow had put the work in early on and managed to cross the line half a length up on the Pensylvanians.
Previews
The Windsor Boys’ School v. Hinksey Sculling School
With both crews winning by two and a half lengths today, tomorrow’s race promises to be a good showdown. Windsor Boys’ have walked into this regatta as hot favourites to sweep the event. Their dominance in junior sculling in the UK over recent years is something that I’m sure will threaten Hinksey. The boys from Oxford were third at National Schools’ Regatta, but 14 seconds back on Windsor, but were separated by a second to the barrier today, so they have clearly gone up a gear since May. I think this will be a fairly close race but since we haven’t really seen either of these crews tested with their sprint finishes I have to go off previous results. I predict that Windsor Boys’ will secure themselves a seat in the final and thus continue their legacy of excellence.
Marlow R.C. v. Shiplake College
Marlow’s race today is one that those boys are going to remember for years to come. With them having the knowledge and proof their sprint is lethal, they will know that by holding contact with Dave Currie’s boys they will have a fighting chance coming into the enclosures. We haven’t really seen a Shiplake sprint in the quad yet but after seeing their eight I’m sure they will have something up their sleeve. These crews have been going from strength to strength in this regatta and I think tomorrow’s race will be one of the best of the day. It could honestly be too close to call but I think after Marlow’s sprint today I’m going to predict Marlow to make it to Henley Sunday.
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