Reviews
Eton v. Southport, AUS
Eton’s opening race against Bedford is one that brought the quality of their eight this year into question, but after today’s performance it’s clear that they have put those rumours to bed. Off the start, the boys in turquoise were dead level with the Aussie national champions making clear it was going to be a dogfight the whole way down the course. As both crews came down onto their race pace Eton began to inch away from Southport gradually, bowball by bowball. By Fawley the boys from Windsor had stretched out their lead to a full length but Southport weren’t going to let them slip out of their hands so easily and put a gutsy effort in to close the gap to only a quarter of a length in Eton’s favour. Coming into the enclosures both coxes moved their boats nearer to the middle with both sets of blades crossing over the middle station. Southport received warning for their steering aiding Eton the chance to take the win by three quarters of a length over the Australians, sending them back home in the process.
Shiplake v. Radley
The battle of the bow-rigs was always going to be a good race: long-term school-boy rivals fighting for a weekend race. Radley and Shiplake finished second and third at the National Schools’ Regatta respectively and with less than a second separating them in May, today was always predicted to be tight. Off the start Radley immediately put Shiplake on the back foot as they moved out to a half a length lead. By Fawley they had moved out again to three quarters of a length but the local boys of Shiplake were right there with them. By Remenham, the race was looking increasingly decided with Radley leading and the water running out quickly. However, as seen at National Schools’, the Shiplake sprint this year is deadly and as the enclosures began Shiplake started going through the gears. Radley, clearly phased by this, had their eyes out the boat which allowed the boys in yellow and black to slip through and be up a canvas by the progress board. They dug deep and overthrew the Oxford boys by two thirds of a length.
St Edward’s School v. King’s College School Wimbledon
The fourth and fifth place finishers at National Schools’ have been posting similar times to each other all week. With Teddies dispatching Hamilton Boys’ school earlier in the week, they would have the confidence to know they can win this race. This would be a battle of willpower. Off the start the Teddies crew, coached by John Singfield, managed to get out to a half length lead over the boys from Wimbledon. By Fawley St Edward’s school had claimed a full boat length lead which they held coming through Remenham. By the enclosures KCS had begun to move back. As they brought the rate up it was clear that there was no catching Teddies. Ultimately, Teddies crossed the line three quarters of a length up on KCS.
Previews
Eton College v. Shiplake College
The fourth place finishers at National Schools’ have clearly stepped on a huge amount in their block of training since May. Their first race was uninspiring but they’ve clearly improved on as the regatta has progressed and it will be interesting to see what they have in store for the crew that pipped them at National Schools’. Shiplake’s race today was sensational and they know if they hold contact with the Eton crew when they come into the enclosure they have the power to beat them to the line. As the standard of junior rowing in the UK has come up so far it makes it difficult for me to predict a definite winner. I just think that if Shiplake is anywhere near Eton by the enclosures and they get a sniff of winning they will leap on it. As a result, I think Shiplake will win tomorrow’s showdown.
St Paul’s School v. St Edward’s School
Last year’s final race had Teddies pinch the coveted trophy but with St Paul’s clearly stepping on hugely and having a crew similar to that of their 2018 boat this year the tables may have been turned. The Teddies crew has clearly stepped on massively since National Schools’ and with their early lead today I’m sure they might be able to challenge the big dogs of St Paul’s. Ultimately I can’t see Teddies walking through the boys from Barnes so I’m gonna predict an SPS victory.
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