This category is absolutely crammed with competition, and has more GB trialists than you can shake a stick at, although I admit, I’ve never tried shaking a stick at anyone, let alone GB trialists… Anyway, I digress.
Surbiton High School BC (Anderson)
Last year’s single sculler for the GB France match, and the only sculler in this lineup to make the ‘A’ final at April trials, Lola Anderson will definitely be coming in to this event looking for a win. Fifth in the aforementioned April trial, and eighth at Early ID, she is incredibly powerful for a J17, and is definitely my favourite to take the gold.
Weybridge RC (Wheeldon)
While in my opinion, the fight for gold will be a one horse race (figurative, please don’t take offence), the race for silver and bronze is going to be far less clear cut. Layla Wheeldon will be one of those looking to claim one of the two. After a drop in performance at February trials, finishing way back in the rankings coming thirty seventh, she seemed to regain some form for April, taking third in the ‘C’ final. Whether she will pull out her best or her worst is yet to be seen, but definitely one to watch.
Liverpool Victoria RC (Saccheri)
Not a name I have seen making much of an impact before this year, the only result I can find of Inge Maj Saccheri (what a fantastic name!) is of a J16 quad from last year, which never progressed further than the semi finals. Nonetheless, as a single sculler she seems to be pretty efficient, winning the ‘D’ final at April trials.
Tideway Scullers’ School (Saunders)
Another sculler in contention for the silver and bronze medals, Meg Saunders had a fantastic result at Feb trials, finishing fourteenth, but seemed to lack the necessary gearing to cope with the shorter 2k course, finishing four seconds behind Saccheri to come second the the ‘D’ final in April. I reckon she will have picked the speed back up again by now though, so could really challenge Wheeldon for the silver.
Stratford-upon Avon BC (North)
Not known for being a powerhouse of rowing, Stratford-upon Avon seem to have done something right with Imogen North. A fairly average finish at Feb trials, followed up with yet another ‘D’ final finish, fourth this time, puts her in good stead to challenge for the bronze.
Bewl Bridge (Grant)
After having gained selection to go to the Munich International Regatta, Georgina Grant may well be looking to make easy of this race. However, her selection was in sweep, as was her result from April trials, fifth in the ‘B’ final. To this end it will be interesting to see how she fares in a multi-lane race against some hardcore scullers.
Other than that, names to look out for are; Andrews, of Putney High School BC; Blackett and Stevens of Reading RC; and Meakin, of Norwich.
Prediction
1st Anderson, 2nd Wheeldon and 3rd Saunders.
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