The second eights event is when we truly get to see which programmes have the best strength in depth and which coaches have, admirably, created an entire squad of talent. Naturally, there will be many girls racing in this category who narrowly missed out on the championship boat – this makes for tremendous racing as they will be looking to lay down a marker for any potential crew changes before Henley Royal Regatta and also put themselves in stronger contention for next season. It takes substantial mental strength to be able to continue training and racing alongside the championship or first eight and for this, all girls in this event should be commended.
The second eights are due to race alongside the championship eights at Dorney Lake, which provides an opportunity to be pushed on by those they are surrounded by and also put the ‘top’ boats under pressure.
Headington School Oxford
The Headington girls have struggled all season to replicate the pace of their competition, as at SHoRR they returned home with 15th position and nearly a minute and a half behind the winners from Henley. Headington scratched from Wallingford regatta which makes it difficult to be able to judge how they have stepped on since winter came to an end. Although, this allows for a potential surprise result if they have made significant time up, in the past months.
Henley
The second eight out of Henley will no doubt produce an exceptional time, as these were the girls who won 1st eights at Schools Head of the River, with the club’s top boat bringing home the championship title, highlighting how dominant they are in junior women’s sweep. At Wallingford Regatta Henley were involved in two boats in the School’s first eights category, with the second one (composit with LEH) placing third and 11 seconds behind Henley A.
Lady Eleanor Holles School
LEH had a crew entered into championship eights at Wallingford and one full crew and a composit (with Henley) into school’s eights. In the school event they placed second, just 5 seconds behind Henley, which is a confidence boosting result ahead of NSR. The fact that they can stake a claim to three quick JW eights at Wallingford highlights that their second eight at NSR will bring speed to Eton Dorney.
Latymer Upper School
Latymer as a whole team, have performed consistently this season, unfazed by the recent tradition of lessons in sweep rowing taught from Henley and Headington at National Schools’ Regatta. As their top boat placed second in champ eights at School’s Head, their second crew came in fourth position and 30 seconds behind Henley, which admittedly would be difficult to overturn. This squad of girls also gained last minute racing practice at Nottingham City Regatta with only one WJ18 eight entered at Wallingford regatta.
The lack of solely ‘second eight’ racing makes it troublesome for me to predict and find results to go off, however this is how I believe the previously mentioned crews will perform:
- Henley
- Latymer Upper School
- Lady Eleanor Holles School
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