Kingston Small Boats Head 2018 – WJ18 Singles

As one of three races that Kingston BC hosts, Kingston Small Boats Head is for many juniors, especially those more local to the course, the first big race of the season, allowing them to put into practice all the winter training they’ve been doing since the beginning of the new season. With a mixture of more prestigious and less well-known junior clubs entered, it is always an exciting time to see who is potentially going to be at the top of the field in this new season.

Tideway Scullers School – O’KEEFE

Ruby O’Keefe most recently took first place in the double sculls event at the 2018 Home International Regatta with fellow TSS rower Orla Supple. She also raced at the 2017 Sculler’s Head and came 24^th out of 82 in the W4x at the 2017 Fours’ Head. With these successes behind her, and the top-level coaching which is available at TSS, I’m sure that O’Keefe is prepared for a good race at the weekend.

Surbiton High School – HUNTER YOUNG, SANDERS

Although not such a high-profile rowing school as others such as Headington, Surbiton has had quite some success recently, and with two scullers entered for this category, it looks as if the club is looking for more medals to add to the tally. Olivia Hunter Young became the Year 8 national champion at the 2015 BRIC, taking the gold medal. She has most recently competed in the junior women’s eight at the 2018 J16 GB vs France match, where the crew took a victory of four lengths over their French opponents. Charlotte Sanders was awarded the title of most improved J16 rower by her school for her dedication to rowing over the past year, and joined fellow Surbiton rower Olivia Hunter Young in the JW8+ at the GB vs France match.

Headington School – GRAINGER, MAHONY, MILNE, WALDRON, PEACH, KENNEDY

As usual, Headington is dominating the draw for this event, with some very strong scullers entered. Rachel Grainger has had a multitude of successes over the past season. At 2017 Henley Women’s Regatta, Grainger raced in the coxed four which reached the semi-finals, and raced this year in the W1x. At the Armada Cup in Bern, Grainger came 10^th overall in the WJ17 1x and took first place in the WJ18 1x at the 2018 Isis Sculls. In addition to this, she came 57^th in the 8+ at the 2018 Women’s Head of the River. Cordelia Mahoney raced in the first eight in the Intermediate Eights category at this year’s WEHoRR, ranking 22^nd overall and the 2^nd fastest junior crew of the day. At the 2018 National School’s Head of the River she raced in the first eight again, taking home silver. She won the WJ17 1x at this year’s Isis Sculls and raced in the first four at the 2017 West End ARA, where the crew reached the semi-finals. Amarna Milne has also had some success over the past season. At 2018 Isis Sculls she raced in the single scull, taking 6^th place. She was 1^st in the WJ16 4x which she raced in at 2018 Wallingford Regatta, and also raced in the 8+ at 2018 WEHoRR, coming in in 57^th place. Emily Waldron took 3^rd place in the WJ18 1x at 2018 Isis Sculls most recently. She also raced in the quad at 2016 Gloucester Spring Head, where the crew won, and in addition raced in the WJ16 8+ at the 2017 Hampton Head where the crew took first place. Alex Peach was 4^th in WJ18 1x at 2018 Isis Sculls and raced in the 8+ at 2018 Women’s Head, where the crew came 57^th overall. At the 2017 Hampton Head, Peach came 1^st in the WJ16 8+ and also took the win in the quadruple sculls at 2016 Gloucester Spring Head. Kennedy raced in the WJ17 1x at 2018 Isis Sculls, taking 2^nd place. With some very impressive results backing these girls, it will be interesting to see how they do.

St Georges College – WALTER, STEWART, DORUDI

The St George’s rowing programme also seems to have been producing some good results. They had three crews at this year’s National Schools Regatta, two of which medalled, and one of which made the semi-final for the first time in the school’s history. Walter raced in the 2018 Walton and Weybridge Regatta in the WJ18 1x. Stewart won her WJ18 double at Walton and Weybridge this year by 1 ¼ lengths and additionally took first place in the double at the 2018 Thames Ditton Regatta. Dorudi came 5^th overall in the WJ17 1x at 2018 Wallingford LDS, and won the WJ16 2x category at the 2018 Walton and Weybridge Regatta.

Bedford Girls School – AMES

Bedford Girls School has an ever-improving squad. In 2014 all of their crews successfully entered Henley Women’s Regatta, with the junior double winning their category. In addition to these successes, many current students have trials for the GB junior team. Olivia Ames was the winner of the W2- in the 2018 Star Regatta. She also raced in School Girl First Fours at 2018 Scullery and was part of the WJ18 4+ which won at 2018 Head of the Trent. Ames also raced in the WJ18 8+ at 2018 Bedford Fours and Eights Head.

Kingston RC – HARWOOD, SHELTON, QUIN, MEDCALF

Kingston RC looks as if it’s going to have a lot of success at this race. Each of the girls entered has had a very successful past season of racing, mainly in the WJ16 four. They took wins at 2018 Reading Amateur Regatta, Twickenham Regatta, Chiswick Amateur Regatta, Tyne Head, Richmond Amateur Regatta and Schools Head and 2017 Remenham Challenge, Teddington Head and Kingston SBH in the WJ16 four, with a further win in the WT1 four at 2017 Kingston Amateur Regatta. In addition to this, all of the girls – Amber Harwood, Beth Shelton, Emma Quin and Hannah Medcalf – were selected to race in the W8+ which was victorious at the 2018 J16 GB vs France match. Seeing as they generally race together as a crew, and therefore are of a similar standard, it will be very exciting to see how each of the girls fare in the coming race. Amber Harwood is ranked 4^th overall in Kingston RC, with 11 wins in total over the 2017-18 season and is currently the junior vice-captain. In addition to racing in the four, Hannah Medcalf won in the WNOV 1x at last year’s Kingston SBH, good preparation for this year’s race, and is currently ranked 1^st overall with 12 wins over the 2017-18 season. Beth Shelton, the current junior captain with 11 wins over the season, and Emma Quin, who has a total of 12 wins, also raced in the WJ16 2- at Hampton SBH, where they won. With such a strong past season to build on, I’d be very surprised if Kingston RC didn’t take the top spots.

Kingston Grammar School – JONES, ABBOTT, KING

Isadora Jones came 2^nd in WJ16 8+ at JIRR 2017. Lily Abbott raced in the girl’s quad at the 2018 Scullery, coming in fourth place. She also raced in the WJ16 4x at 2018 Marlow Town Regatta, where the crew won their category. Freya King has also been very successful recently. She took gold in the WJ16 2- at 2017 National Schools Regatta, an impressive accolade, as the crew were sitting at 4^th place for much of the race. In addition to this, she took 2^nd place in the WJ16 8+ at the 2017 Junior Interregional Regatta.

Fulham Reach BC – THOMSON

Fulham Reach BC has been working incredibly hard to increase the number of young people in rowing, with the aim of getting all the schools in the Hammersmith and Fulham areas on the water. Part of this aim is the creation of the ‘Future Blues’ campaign, which raises the importance of sport and a healthy lifestyle and inspires the children living in areas which border the Boat Race course to begin rowing. Thomson raced in the WSch 1x at the 2017 Scullers Head and came 4^th overall. She also took third place in the WJ18 2x Club at 2017 Pairs Head. With this experience behind her it will be interesting to see how she does.

Predictions:

I’d imagine that the top spots will be shared between any of the girls from Kingston BC or Headington School, with potentially some success from Freya King. Due to racing on their home stretch of the river, I’d imagine that the girls from Kingston may have the edge here.

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Lucy Lloyd

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