On bank holiday Monday, 20 junior women’s quads are set to compete at the Junior Sculling Regatta on the Olympic lake. With a challenging 1900m time trial and an intense 2000m side-by-side final, the event is full with competitiveness and excitement. Here are the ones to watch:
Wallingford Rowing Club
Enjoying a standout performance at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head earlier this year, Wallingford have to be hot favourites to claim this opening regatta title. A storming opening run to tie for first but a slightly slower second go round had them settle for silver by only 2.6 seconds. However, without the main competitors of Henley RC present, this could be Wallingford’s race to lose.
Sir William Borlase Grammar School Boat Club
Fresh off a victory at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta just two weeks ago, this crew have the regatta racing experience from their nail-biting A-final. Additionally, they showcased their skill over the 2k distance at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head, securing a sixth-placed finish against tough opposition. Overall, they are a crew with the mental strength to keep fighting for their place in a side-by-side final and the physical capacity to push on means this quad certainly have a chance at victory on Monday.
Hereford Cathedral School Boat Club
A crew who are undeniably proficient in a regatta context, and often overlooked, are the silver medallists from the National Schools’ Regatta 2023, Hereford Cathedral School. The West Midlands crew recently raced as half a composite at JIRR, placing second, following their strong showing of 12th at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head. Furthermore, this crew’s experience includes their win at Wycliffe Big Head, where they secured victory with a 12-second lead over Stratford-Upon-Avon Boat Club. With a track record of success across various boat categories, they’re certainly ones to keep an eye on in the years ahead.
Headington School Oxford Boat Club
One thing I have learnt through following this age group for the past two years is to never count Headington out of a race. Securing fourth place at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head but notably absent from JIRR, Headington have banked a somewhat less competitive start to the season compared to previous years. However, with their win at the National Schools’ Regatta last year, I cannot keep them on the sidelines, especially with the reputation and resources that the Oxfordshire-based institution has at its command. I believe this quad is in with a fighting chance against Wallingford this Monday.
Tideway Scullers School
Placing third at JIRR, the Tideway Scullers School also look to be in amongst the fastest crews for this season. Rounding out the top ten at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head, they can obviously maintain this for both races on Monday. Having gradually built up their speed over the past two years after featuring in the National Schools’ Regatta B-final at J14 level before swapping to sweep last year, the squad have reversed back to sculling for J16. I would say that TSS have come back to win and will not stop working until they do.
Prediction
I believe this season as a whole could be some of the closest racing between the young women in the junior 16 category that has been seen for a while. If the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta was anything to go off, the races will come down to the wire. However, my top three for the event would have to be Wallingford followed by Sir William Borlase who are followed by Headington. I think Hereford Cathedral will just be pipped but will also take Tideway Scullers just before the line. I would however take time out of your day to watch this race as the timings over the line at JIRR from first to fourth were less than four seconds, promising us a riveting race that is jam-packed with action.
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