As crews emerge from the winter break and dive back into some normal training routines, we look ahead to the real start of the 2024 rowing season. The late months of 2023 witnessed cancellation after cancellation due to flooding and adverse weather, leaving every junior rower up and down the country begging to go back to racing. The new year will bring new goals and aspirations for all, with some looking for competitive GB trial places and others dreaming of Henley Royal Regatta. Here is a look ahead to some of the noteworthy crews and events that 2024 will bring.
WJ18 Sculling
Following their remarkable performance in junior women’s quads last year, Wycliffe emerges as the favourite. Securing the top six positions in the WJ18 category at the Scullers Head in September, along with the top spot in the WJ17s, there is no doubt Wycliffe is home to the strongest scullers entering the regatta season. However, as demonstrated by Tideway Scullers School (TSS) at Henley Royal Regatta, Wycliffe is not unbeatable.
In the current season, TSS has ventured overseas, participating in the Head of the Charles and securing a second place finish out of 50 crews and will be dedicated to coming out on top form earlier in this season. Additionally, other contenders in this competitive mix include Marlow and Henley, securing 2nd and 3rd positions, respectively, at National Schools’ Regatta 2023. These four renowned rowing clubs are expected to be the frontrunners this season.
WJ18 Sweep
Wanting to reclaim their unrivalled status, Headington will be aiming for the prestigious Championships 8+ at the NSR, then towards further success at Henley Royal Regatta. Surbiton High School and Henley secured the second and third positions respectivel at NSR but also Henley’s majority J17 lineup last year hints at a strong comeback this season. Additionally, St Paul’s Girls’ School, boasting a silver medal from their J16 year, adds an extra competitor we would all love to see.
Wimbledon High School secured the J15 national title in a closely contested race against Henley Rowing Club, marking one of the season’s tightest finishes. With no clear dominator throughout the season and different winners in each race, the 2024 season appears wide open, promising a competitive and unpredictable field. Victory is anyone’s game; this season is going to deliver thrilling races and entertainment along the way.
WJ18 4+/4-
Following the success of their coxless and coxed women’s fours, both securing national medals last season, Royal Shrewsbury School is my top pick to be the crew to beat this year. With three J17 returners, the squad’s overall strength is well-established providing an advantage over clubs starting afresh. Another well-known competitor in this category is Stratford-Upon-Avon Boat Club, who claimed the silver medal in their J16 year and narrowly missed out on bronze in the last season as J17s. Their recent change in the crew lineup could affect their podium plans but I still expect Stratford to be fighting out front on race day.
In the J16 fours, Nottingham and Union showcased their strength by claiming both the time trial and final at National Schools, adding to their previous silver medal at JIRR. Hot on their heels were Glasgow Academy and Wallingford Rowing Club, both within touching distance of the sought-after national title.
WJ18 1x
I believe this year’s single sculls event will likely be led by current J16 Briony Wood from Glasgow Academy. She has an extraordinary track record, winning both the National Schools’ Championship JW1x and the Junior Championship 1x as a J15. She also showed her skills internationally by winning the GB vs France 1x race. However, it would be interesting to see her face some challenges from other talented and more experienced junior scullers this season.
WJ16 4x
The WJ16 quads show promise with some strong crews and squads. Clubs like Headington, City of Bristol and Henley have consistently done well since J15, highlighting the skills of rowers from those squads. However, there’s always room for new talent. Hereford Cathedral School came from nowhere to closely missing out on the National Schools’ title to Headington by just 0.5 seconds. They’re certainly putting in the effort to close that gap and prove their worth.
Coastal Rowing
As we pass the Olympics this year, I would turn your attention to the ever-growing coastal rowing which seems to be becoming more popular every year. With the junior double of Summer Harlow (Bradford Rowing Club) and Leah Saunders (Evesham Rowing Club) winning gold in the women’s coastal double at the Coupe de la Jeunesse Beach Sprints, beating Italy by twenty seconds, I sense that this is an area of the sport that will grow and develop this season and into the next one.
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