This year, the Championship double has a massive entry of 44 crews, and for the most part, these entries can be subdivided between crews that have come out of racing quads on the Saturday, and crews who have their focus solely on this event. Whilst the mechanics between the two boats are somewhat different, covering the 2000m course as quick as possible is commonplace between the two. This event for the Fox Tankard always produces good racing, with this year being no exception.
Leander Club
Leander have split their squad for the Sunday, with a three crews in this event. The lineup of the A crew is Tim Eliers and Miles Devereux, and this really is a crew to watch. Both have been a part of Leander’s all conquering top quad. Furthermore Miles recently earned a first GB vest at the Munich Regatta, and Tim Eliers has superb speed in a small boat with numerous wins this season, notably a win by 15 seconds at the Junior Sculling Regatta. This crew has huge potential, and are, in the eyes of many, the favourites to win this event. The B boat is made up of Joe Murphy and Stephen Hughes. Joe has made great strides at Leander, with recent recognition from Sports Aid, and Stephen has come over from Maidenhead and still has a further junior year as he is only J17. The final crew is made up of Harry Briggs and Alex Pikelis, again who ought to be strong, proved by a bronze JSR for Pikelis in J18 1x but will maybe not quite have the speed to challenge the top crews in this event. Nevertheless Leander seem to have the stand out squad on the junior sculling scene this year so all these crews will be ones to keep an eye on.
Henley RC A
Again, a club that has split it’s main quad down the middle for this event on Sunday. That quad has produced some decent results so far this year, notably a 5th place in Challenge Quads at Wallingford Regatta. The A crew is worthy of discussion as it is made up of Joe Long and Balthasar Issa, two athletes who were a part of the Munich squad so have proven boat moving skill. Again, this is a crew that will have it’s sights set on the boys in pink come Sunday.
Lea RC
A familiar name on the junior rowing scene these days, Lea produce dangerous crews that will always be in the mix. This double is no exception, as it is the familiar Powell/Den Dulk combination that won two British Junior Championship titles on the bounce, and is always nipping at the heels of the top crews. Whilst Lea have placed their eggs firmly in the basket of their top quad this crew has a proven history, and if any crew can make the swap from quad to double, these guys would be up there, gunning for a medal.
Tideway Scullers School A
Stalwarts of the junior sculling picture, TSS are again back with an armada of crews, of which their A crew has the potential to be considered as dark horses in this event. This top boat comprises Alfie Hill and Marcus Jonas, two guys involved in the trials process and ever presents of what is a very strong senior squad at Scullers this year, on both the junior mens and womans side. The thing that might count against, this crew is an apparent lack of racing,with no results in a double making it hard to know how this crew will fare against some quality crews that are in this event.
Predictions
Other notable entries here, that i would expect to qualify form the time trial but maybe not have the speed of the aforementioned would be clubs such as Walton RC, Gloucester Hartpury, Hinksey and Windsor Boys, but any one of the crew here could spring a surprise come race day.
In terms of a looking at medallists, i think it will be tight, but for me the Leander A crew will have too much for any of the others. I would call Leander A for gold, with Lea taking silver from Henley A in third.
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