As summer returns, so does Henley Women’s Regatta. The infamous stretch of the Thames will be brimming with excitement as the leading women in rowing step up to compete over the mile course. Celebrating its 35th birthday this year, Henley Women’s Regatta is one of the primary events for women’s rowing in the world, and will see crews compete in events for prestigious trophies. There will be twenty two young women competing for the Di Ellis Trophy for Junior 18 Singles this year, and although finding results for most of them has been difficult, they all will have been training for months leading up to the event.
Shiplake College Boat Club
Jessica Weir is probably the outright favourite here. She raced at the Munich International Regatta, winning gold in the double and the quad, and has been around the Shiplake set-up for a few years now. She also stroked the Shiplake quad that finished fifth at the National Schools’ Regatta. Hard to see past her for the win.
Wycliffe Junior Rowing Club
With Lily Anderson having scratched, Eloise Etherington of Wycliffe Junior Rowing Club will step into the breach. Following her success at the Junior Sculling Regatta, where she won the WJ17 1x by nine seconds, Etherington went on to win Second Girl’s Quads at the National Schools’ Regatta. Wycliffe Junior RC have proven the strength of their women’s crews time after time, and it would be no surprise to see a great result from them once again.
Peterborough City Rowing Club
First in the draw is E. Darrington of Peterborough City Rowing Club. After her success at the National Schools’ Regatta a few weeks ago, where Darrington placed third overall, she will be looking for a podium position at this race. Earlier in the year, Darrington also placed second at the Junior Sculling Regatta. She will be faced with several opponents from these previous races at Henley Women’s, and will want to prove herself. I would not be surprised if she progresses far into the competition.
Reading Blue Coat School
Similarly to the Wycliffe Junior RC entrant, P. Johnson of Reading Blue Coat School is a year younger than her competition. After placing third in the WJ17 singles at the Junior Sculling Regatta, she then went on to win the B final of the Championship Girl’s singles at the National Schools’ Regatta. Her success will be sure to follow her to the mile course at Henley Women’s this year.
Other entries
Marlow Rowing Club – A consistently successful club, Marlow Rowing Club are sending C. Kerry-Roger as their J18 single sculler to this year’s Henley Women’s. After placing sixth in the A final of National Schools’ Regatta, she will be angling for a strong position.
Barn Elms Rowing Club – The entrant from Barn Elms Rowing Club, G. Riley, placed seventh at the National Schools’ Regatta, and will be wanting to secure a top spot yet again.
My predictions
- Shiplake College – J.Weir (417)
- Wycliffe Junior Rowing Club – E. Etherington (409)
- Peterborough City Rowing Club – E. Darrington (406)
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