The 5200 metres of the Kingston SBH course will see some fantastic pairs racing, with a few particular stand out crews who should produce some really fast times down the track, and who will be competing at the highest level this season. Kingston is always an interesting event, as it is placed a week after Fours Head, at which many of these athletes will have raced, and a week before GB Early IDs in Boston- however it’s good to see 12 entries from four separate schools.
Eton College
Eton appear to have a relatively strong set of athletes this year, and after their disappointing, but perhaps unavoidable, loss to St Pauls in the final of the 2018 PE, and with their coach Mark Fangen-Hall settling into his second year in the job- could this be the season for them?
Eton have 4 crews entered into the event, with Jain appearing to be the top pair. He raced at bow in Eton’s B boat which came 5th in Jun Champ 4+ at Fours Head (after their A boat scratched). He also picked up a win in J18 Doubles at Wallingford LDS a couple of weeks ago. Jain and Clarke were both members of Eton’s NSR winning 3rd 8+ last year, with Clarke racing in the D boat at Fours Head, coming in a respectable 4th in Jun Chall 4+. The other 2 entries are both J17’s with Van Steenis also racing in Eton D at Fours Head, having raced last year in the J16 2nd 8+. Finally, Lucas, who was in ETN (C), which, had it not been racing for time only, would have placed 6th in Jun Champ 4+- He raced in the J16 Champ 8+ last year.
Although some of these pairs should be fairly strong- they are not from the very top end of the squad, as the likes of Junior World Champion Max Shakespeare are not entered.
Kings College
Kings have one crew entered- KCS Thompson– he was the 6 seat of the KCS J16 Champ 8+ that came a very close 4th at NSR earlier this year, and also recently raced at Fours Head, placing 7th in Jun Champ 4-. He and his partner will be looking to upstage some of the J18 crews, and from their results, they could be quite quick.
Canford
Crews from Canford almost always bring an unknown quantity to a race, and with no appearances at any major events to see this season, the only result I can find for Beaney is an unimpressive 7th in the C final of Champ 8s at National Schools this year. However, although crews from Canford are not usually known for their rowing prowess, could Beaney and his partner be the stand out athletes from the squad?
Westminster
Westminster look like they are going to big players on the circuit this year, with a 1, 3, 4 in Jun Champ 4- at Fours Head, snatching the win from St Pauls.
Two of the six pairs entered are from this winning four, with Crosbie and Baroudel sitting in the 3 and 2 seat. These two boats will definitely be looking for the win, as I imagine their partners will also be from that four. Wagstaff and Polychronopoulos are from the 4- that came 3rd at Fours Head, with Polychronopoulos also producing an impressive 2nd in the highly competitive J17 Singles at Wallingford LDS. Finally, Sawhney and Haddad are from the 4th and 10th placed coxless fours from Fours Head, with Sawhney also competing at Wallingford, picking up an 11th place in J17 Singles. They will be looking to see if they can put themselves past some of their J18 teammates.
Predictions
I expect Westminster’s two pairs of Crosbie and Baroudel to be fighting it out for the top spot, followed by Eton’s Jain and a mixture of the other Eton and Westminster crews. However, KCS could be up there competing for a top place- and could even Canford find some speed?
MarginalGainz
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