As the last of the sun dips below the horizon, the dark skies settle overhead, and the warmth gives way to winter’s bitter chill, rowing clubs everywhere are adapting, with some turning their former J14s into sweep rowing specialists, while others double down on sculling. In the upcoming race, sixteen coxed quads will battle down a five-kilometer course, each vying for what will likely be their first victory of the season. With the National Schools’ Regatta gold medalists in the mix, it may seem like the outcome is already written. But with Kingston Rowing Club enjoying home-court advantage, this will surely be a race to watch.
Hampton School Boat Club
A club on the rise, this age group has its sights set on repeating last year’s success. With national titles claimed last year in the octuple for both their A and B boats, they’ve proven their strength in sculling. However, with much of the focus likely shifted towards preparing these athletes for sweep rowing, they may not have spent as much time in the quad as some of their competitors — a factor that could open the door for another crew to challenge them. Despite this, they are clear favourites, and if they can come close to last year’s performance, the top spot will be within their grasp.
Emanuel School Boat Club
A club that has largely flown under the radar, their recent successes — including two eights qualifying for Henley — show Emanuel School are on an upward trajectory. Producing two quads from a relatively small program speaks not only to their current strength but also to a promising future. Based on the Tideway, these rowers are likely well-acquainted with tough conditions, which should serve them well in this race. With experience in an octuple last season too, they’re no strangers to sculling. Only time will tell if their decision to stick with sculling, rather than transitioning to sweep, will pay off.
Kingston Rowing Club
These boys know the water they’re going to be racing on, and the advantage of understanding every inch of their home course cannot be overstated. Kingston has clearly strengthened its program, doubling the number of quads entered since last year’s National Schools’ Regatta. This growth in squad size not only speaks to the club’s momentum but also likely fuels a competitive drive within the team, pushing each rower to strive harder. Racing at home, with the added camaraderie and intensity that comes from training alongside a larger group, they’ll be hungry for a medal. The question is, on familiar waters, will they manage to harness this advantage and rise to the occasion, or will they fall short of their goals? Either way, it promises to be an exciting race to watch.
Molesey Boat Club
I’ve highlighted the J18 Molesey quad as a crew to watch this season in another article, and hopefully, the skills and legacy of the older club members will make their way down to the J15 quad as well. This J15 crew raced together in a coxed quad last year, giving them a level of familiarity and shared experience that other teams will likely envy. The cohesion they built during last season’s races should make them formidable opponents, as they already understand each other’s rhythms and strengths. In a race where many other lineups have likely shifted, this well-established rapport could prove to be a game-changing advantage for Molesey. If they can capitalise on this, they may well be in the mix for top positions.
Predictions
I think this weekend will be fascinating, as it offers a real chance to see where the clubs that are generally middle of the pack currently stand. While it would be exciting to see Kingston or one of the other clubs overthrow the dominant four Hampton quads, I just don’t think it’s likely. Although the home-water advantage could play a role, few other teams have experienced the thrill of victory in the same way as Hampton have. Their success breeds confidence, and that edge could very well be the deciding factor here. Still, anything can happen in a race, and it’ll be interesting to see if the pressure of favorites affects Hampton or if another crew seizes the opportunity to close the gap.
- Hampton
- Kingston Rowing Club
- Hampton
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