A special event for many athletes and coaches, Henley Women’s Regatta often provides juniors with their first experience along a shortened version of the Henley course. The results of the Bea Langridge Trophy allow a sneak peek into those to watch out for at Henley Royal and is therefore one of the most competitive categories of the event. With a total of 28 entries making their way down the 1500m course, it is all to race for as athletes hope to be the crew to raise the trophy.
Wycliffe Junior Rowing Club
The success of Wycliffe speaks for itself as the club has gone from strength to strength throughout the season. Among their list of achievements is their recent win at the National Schools’ Regatta, and with the same four girls making the A crew for HWR, it is highly likely that Wycliffe will take gold home once again. Wycliffe’s B crew also won the Second Quads event at the National Schools’ Regatta, finishing with a time that would have placed them in the A final of the First Quads category. Therefore, whether it be the A or B quad, Wycliffe appear to be the ones to beat.
Henley Rowing Club
Out to prove themselves on home waters, the girls from Henley Rowing Club will be snapping at the heels of Wycliffe and are likely to make the final. This year, they placed first at Fours Head, third at the Scullery Head and claimed bronze at the National Schools’ Regatta. After Wycliffe’s defeat at the Metropolitan Regatta – the first visible chink in the armour in an otherwise indomitable season – Henley will be smelling blood.
Kingston Grammar School Boat Club
Finishing just over a second behind Henley at the National Schools’ Regatta, Kingston Grammar will be racing for redemption. With an U19 World medallist in their crew, the expectation is great and the field congested and competitive. They will take heart from the tales of Claires Court School, who came from within the pack to surprise everyone and win the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta last year. If Kingston Grammar can unseat one of Wycliffe or Henley this weekend, their trajectory is only headed in one direction.
Shiplake College
Perennial contenders in this event since their debut bow in 2021 – where they won everything on offer – Shiplake are back for revenge in 2023. Their rain-soaked dismissal at the hands of Claires Court Boat Club on a stormy Saturday afternoon at Henley Royal Regatta last year was a complete shock to onlookers and they’ve been locked in near-deadlock with Marlow Rowing Club ever since. Their fifth-placed finish at the National Schools’ Regatta was a disappointment by their own incredibly high standards and they’ll be looking to push on at the weekend.
Headington School
Headington have opted to prioritise the eight in 2023, a choice last seen in their 2021 victory at both Henley Women’s and Henley Royal Regattas. As a result, this crew is de-facto their second boat – two of the crew seem to be from their second eight at the National Schools’ Regatta (which won bronze) alongside Mia Walsh (who curiously stroked the winning first eight at the same event) alongside Ria Wallwork who steps up from the J15 1st eight which won their ‘B’ final. An interesting combination of athletes – I can’t see them challenging for top honours but a quarter-final berth would be a great kick-on for Henley Royal Regatta.
Hartpury College
A name that needs little to no introduction at this level of racing, those who have been around the junior rowing circuit long enough will remember the middle of next decade when Hartpury were unbeatable in this category. They would sit in wait all year, not really showing their hand until Henley season when they would boat an unbelievable junior crew. Their four consecutive wins in the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup stand testament to that. Will the 2023 be the same? They’re bringing together Chloe Sheppard – silver medalist in the CHG1x at the National Schools’ Regatta – and Millie Hurrel + Imogen Maher, who were fourth in CHG2x. Then, just when you think the talent consolidation is over, they bring in Biba Rabjohns, who was third overall at February trials. This boat will be fast.
Molesey Boat Club
Hard to ignore a crew that has two gold medalists from the National Schools’ Regatta. Olivia Cheesmur and Amelie Davies teamed up to win CHG2x a few weeks ago and now slot into a quad that will be hoping to shake up the hierarchy in schoolgirl quad sculling. Unsure how fast they’re travelling at the moment – the addition of Lydia Truett and Eva Briody from the CHG4- that finished fifth in the ‘B’ final might not certify them as stand-outs.
St Edward’s School
Teddies’ ascendancy in both junior men’s and women’s rowing has been a pleasure to witness over the last decade. This boat placed sixth in the final of Championship Girls Quads at the National Schools’ Regatta a few weeks ago and in a field missing the talents of Marlow Rowing Club, they’ll be looking to step on and secure a semi-final placing.
Tideway Scullers School
This crew shocked everyone by beating out Wycliffe at the Metropolitan Regatta ten days ago. Since then, they have opted to move things around internally – Ansley Vicars and Alice Metcalf move into the Junior Eight and Amalka Delevante comes in from the Junior 16 double that placed second at the National Schools’ Regatta. Let’s see how they get on in a really strong field.
Other contenders
Similarly to Headington, it will be interesting to see if the sweeping success of Surbiton can be transferred into a quad. Other intriguing watches will come from the two international entries of Kingston RC from Canada and King’s College from Australia.
Predictions
I would predict that Wycliffe will claim the trophy, though will face tough competition from Henley, Shiplake, Hartpury and Headington as well as those travelling from overseas. The semi-finals are also likely to include Kingston Grammar School in this tussle.
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