On Saturday, Dorney Lake will lay host to Henley Royal Regatta’s qualifying races. COVID precautions have brought about this change in venue from the Henley course, but a different location does not diminish the importance of the event for the crews required to take part. Each crew will have one run down the track to put down the fastest time and prove themselves good enough to compete. No matter how good a crew thinks they are, there’s no do-overs and zero room for error; if they don’t cross the finish line fast enough for whatever reason – they don’t race in the regatta.
The Fawley Challenge Cup usually sees one of the largest entries of the regatta, and this year is no different. The 48 crews entered must be halved to form this year’s draw. Nineteen crews have been pre-qualified by the Stewards leaving just five spaces for the remaining 29 crews. With that in mind, let’s look at which crews are most likely to get those few remaining places.
Tideway Scullers School “B” /” C” –
Tideway Scullers School have never outright won the Fawley Challenge Cup, but this year they have the potential not just to win it but qualify a second boat as well. TSS has put out varying combinations of their 2nd and 3rd crews over the past few months with silver medals in 2nd 4x and Champ 4+ at NSR. Backed up with a 9th place finish at BRJC, this club is in a strong position to qualify at least one of these crews through to the main event.
Star Club –
After going out in the first round in 2019, Star Club will be aiming to progress further in this year’s event, but before they do that, they have to get through qualifiers first. The Bedford based club has raced at NSR and BRJC this year with 16th and 12th place finishes, respectively – meaning the club must feel they have a good chance in qualifying.
The Windsor School Boys Boatclub “B”
Another second quad from one of the big-name clubs in the Fawley, this crew has performed well across the few races which have taken place this year. With a gold medal in 2nd 4x at NSR and a 6th place finish in J18 4x at BRJC, this crew have shown their speed and should have a top-five finish firmly in their sights on Saturday.
York Rowing Club “A” –
York Rowing Club has made regular appearances in the Fawley Challenge Cup over the past 15 years. Their most successful campaign came in 2009 when they reached the semi-finals. A 16th place finishes at BRJC means the club should see itself through the qualifiers.
Nottinghamshire County Rowing Association –
The last time this club qualified a crew to the FCC was in 2003. After 18 years, it may finally be time again, as some promising results this season hint. Half of this quad makes up the double which won gold at NSR and silver at BRJC. This crew’s only racing credit as a full quad is at Marlow Regatta, where they achieved a 13th place finish. On Saturday, it will be fingers crossed for all NCRA supporters hoping their drought can be ended.
Shiplake –
A school more commonly found in eights has a quad entry to go along with its PE bid. This crew has a member of the school’s 2nd eight and two from its gold medal-winning NSR J16 8+ crew. After the success of the school’s girls 1st 4x at NSR and Henley Women’s Regatta, we’ll have to wait and see if this crew can replicate some of that and qualify for the FCC.
Conclusions –
The absence of international crews this year limits the potential for any big surprise qualifiers, but that doesn’t mean that one of the 24 clubs taking part can’t pull something out of the bag and end their season on a high. No matter who qualifies, the promise of the Fawley Challenge Cup taking place once again should fill all junior rowing fans with a sense of enormous excitement.
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