As the days grow shorter, the weather deteriorates, and the looming dread of winter training begins to set in, one thing is for certain: a new rowing season is upon us. After last season’s relentless downpours and countless race cancellations, everyone is hopeful for better weather and more consistent competition. A new season brings fresh opportunities to settle unfinished business and push yourself and your crew to the very forefront of your competition space, and for the crews that dominated last season a mounting pressure is put on themselves to perform again. Only a few crews will rise to claim the top spots this season and after last year’s results there are definitely a few to watch.
Junior Women’s Sweep
St Edward’s School Boat Club Women’s First Eight
An eight that seemed to emerge out of nowhere following the Teddies boys’ victory in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in 2023, their girls’ program has quickly established itself as one of the top junior women’s eights in the country. After a likely disappointing eighth-placed finish at the Schools’ Head of the River, they won the time trial at the National Schools’ Regatta before storming to a silver medal in the final, narrowly defeating the holders, Headington, in a photo finish. With five returning rowers in the boat this season, if they continue their upwards trajectory then they will undoubtedly have their competitors worried.
Norwich School Boat Club Women’s J16 Eight
A school that usually flies under the radar, the Norwich crew in this age group made a bold statement last season, establishing themselves as a top-tier eight. Despite being absent for most of the head racing season, they first caught my attention when they narrowly defeated LEH, an A-finalist crew at the National Schools’ Regatta in the J14 category, by just three feet. They maintained this momentum through to the National Schools’ Regatta, where they secured an A-final finish – a significant achievement and the first for any Norwich Girls’ crew ever. Although they weren’t able to secure a national medal, this crew, with nothing to lose, will have gained immense confidence. As they enter the upcoming season, they are likely to be relentless competitors, driven by the experience and success they have already tasted.
Junior Men’s Sweep
Shiplake College Boat Club Men’s First Eight
A notable mention must be given to the Shiplake College first eight after their impressive performance at Henley Royal Regatta. Despite a devastating setback on the Tideway, where a boat-stopping crab cost them a potential victory at the Schools’ Head of the River, the boys in maroon silenced critics who believed their success was limited to that event. They secured a commendable third-placed finish at the National Schools’ Regatta and made history by reaching the first Henley Royal Regatta final for Shiplake boys in 30 years. With five returners in the crew – four of whom gained international experience this summer including U19 world champion William Harper – the Shiplake ‘Bees’ are poised for a strong season and will be looking to sting those who bested them before.
St Paul’s School Boat Club J16 Squad
Following a remarkable season where their A, B, and C crews dominated at both the Schools’ Head Replacement and the National Schools’ Regatta, breaking the J15 eights record twice, and with an undefeated ‘B’ crew in the eight, St. Paul’s are poised for another stellar year. German Pradera will take these boys on for the coming season, aiming to build on and improve their near-flawless performances in 23/24. The confidence of being a part of a program that secured its eighth Henley Royal Regatta victory this summer should give these athletes the momentum that they need to continue their success.
Junior Women’s Sculling
Wycliffe College Boat Club
JRN’s “Junior Crew of the Year” winners, Wycliffe will be keen to retain the titles they picked up in spectacular style last season. With up to ten budding new recruits hoping to rise through the ranks and set in stone the ‘W’ in Wycliffe, they are certainly a crew that lurk at the top end of junior women’s sculling. Last season, their first crew was able to shatter the Schools’ Head record by over a minute, claim victory at the National Schools’ Regatta by nine seconds before securing the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. A truly dominant display which highlights that the Wycliffe program is here to stay, and other crews need to elevate their game if they hope to keep pace with the purple and white army.
Putney High School Boat Club Women’s First Quad
Racing together since J15 and firming their quad lineup in J16, Putney High School has consistently been at the forefront of competition. The bold transition from the eight into the coxless quad at the start of their J16 season proved to be the best decision for this crew as they have not only adapted but thrived together throughout both this season and the previous one. In their last season, as J17s, the crew achieved notable success by securing a place in the A-final at the National Schools’ Regatta, where they finished an impressive seventh, positioning themselves strongly amongst the championship quads. They continued their strong performance by qualifying at both Henley Women’s Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta, producing spectacular racing against Headington late on Tuesday evening. With all this experience under their belts, I have no doubt this crew can flourish this coming year to push to the front of the junior field.
Junior Men’s Sculling
The Grange School
Making their breakthrough on the sculling scene in Strathclyde, the lesser-known Grange School upset the favoured Windsor Boys to win the 2023 British Club Championship, setting their school’s name into the record books forever. Retaining all four rowers past the J16 recruitment, the squad has exceeded all expectations, producing two GB trialists, Abdelrahman Farag and Angus Goode. Farag boasts international experience in this quad racing at the GB vs. France event last year as well as the Coupe de la Jeunesse in August, proving to be a worthy asset to the crew. If anyone is going to make a dramatic upset in the ranking, Grange have to be the underdogs to support.
Molesey Boat Club
Poised to make a spectacular sculling comeback are the National Schools’ Regatta 2023 J16 silver medalists in the quad from Molesey. With one crewmate having moved on to Shiplake, three of the original quad remain at the black death and will be desperate to make their mark in 2025. The trio who stayed continue to be frequent faces on the national scene, displaying their skill in a multitude of boat classes throughout the 23/24 season. Following a solid performance at the Schools’ Head, where they finished eighth in the quad, and a strong showing at the National Schools’ Regatta, securing seventh place in the four, MBC is setting its sights on even greater achievements in the upcoming season. With the addition of strong J17s, the club will be preparing to climb the rankings to fight for victory.
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