With the National Schools’ Regatta just around the corner, the J15 2nd 8 category is looking heavily contested with Hampton, Abingdon, Westminster and the likes of Kings Chester involved in a tight race to secure gold this Saturday. With a strong winter of head racing behind them and all of these boats having secured the top positions at the Schools’ Head of the River they will have been gearing up for regatta season with the help of Easter training camps. This means competition will be even tighter now.
Hampton
Having been a frontrunner in this contest after a strong 2nd Place at the Schools’ Head of the River, Hampton have shown some real speed through racing season with a 2nd Place at Wallingford to an A crew and a recent win at Bedford, beating Kings Chester in the final. This crew will undoubtedly be one of the fastest on the water at Dorney this Saturday.
Abingdon
As well have shown signs of improvement since there very strong 3rd place at SHORR with a close run against Radley’s As at BASHER where they narrowly lost by half a length, however more recently at Bedford Abingdon did not particularly shine as they were knocked out in the early stages due to steering giving us very little information to where they could finish, but with rumours of a few seat changes and some fat ergos this crew could well be looking to challenge for the Bluefrairs Cup.
Kings College Wimbledon
After their successes in securing the Schools’ Head of the River by eight seconds, this crew will not be looking to shy away. With a strong fourth placed result at Wallingford, just slightly off the pace, this crew would have certainly ramped up the training looking to maintain the form they showed in March and redeem themselves after a disappointing loss to Hampton in the final at Bedford Regatta. This crew will certainly be ones to watch at the National Schools’ Regatta.
Westminster
Having had a fairly strong season so far, with a great third-placed finish at Wallingford behind Hampton, this crew will be looking for a podium position on Saturday. After ending up just behind Abingdon, Hampton and Kings Chester at the Schools’ Head of the River, this Westminster crew will have certainly hit the water hard hoping to find some extra free speed.
Overall I am expecting a very tight contest between these crews and looking at Hampton and Abingdon to be challenging for the top two spots followed closely between Kings Chester and Westminster. However with junior rowing remaining very unpredictable the likes of Shrewsbury and St Geroges could be looking to come into the mix too.
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