Looking at the draw, and in contrary to the lineup of the girls’ champ singles, this event really doesn’t look that competitive when it comes to the upper end of the crews, with only four that I can see containing GB trialists.
Marlow RC (Harding and Long)
Most likely the strongest crew in this field, Marlow so far have absolutely dominated the quad scene, including laying down a time at the Schools’ Head that would have placed them twelfth out of twenty six in the open category. Long, having raced at the Junior Worlds last year, has been too old to trial this year, but hasn’t by any means let her standards slip, while Harding recently finished first in the ‘C’ final at April Trials.
Latymer Upper School (Woolley and Hellard Timm)
Flashback a few months to early ID trials, and I would have said these girls might have been stiff competition for the Marlow double, having both placed in the top twenty. However, things seem to have changed, Woolley wasn’t included in the last set of trials, while Hellard Timm finished fifth in the ‘C’ final. That being said, unless they have suffered some kind of severe illness, I’m sure they will still be a class act.
Kingston Grammar School (Dodds and Blake-Parsons)
Eighth place at the Schools’ Head in a quad, these girls seem solid, although not quite reaching the big time. Both qualified for trials back in November, and have since switched allegiance to sweep, competing in a pair together at April Trials, finishing fourth in the ‘B’ final. Whether they can move a double is yet to be seen, but definitely one to watch.
George Watson’s College (McDonald and McDonald)
One of the two, although I admit I don’t know which, still seems to be holding her own when it comes to GB trials, having finished second in the ‘C’ final at April trials. They don’t seem to have been doing much this season, with no crews entered for the Fours’ or Schools’ Heads, so it will be interesting to see how they fare.
Beyond that, I really don’t know how this will go. I should think there we be a decent showing from Gloucester Hartpury, who seem to consistently produce athletes of a decent standard, although it’s worth noting that neither of the girls entered are in their top quad. Tideway Scullers’ School could be one to watch for the same reason. And the Kings’ School Worcester, whose quad put in pretty good performance at the Schools’ Head.
Prediction
1st Marlow, 2nd Latymer Upper, 3rd Kingston Grammar School.
The Rowing Jesus
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