Summer is finally upon us, and so is the National Schools’ Regatta 2019, which will see twenty-six J16 Quads storming down the track at Eton Dorney in search of the Kingston Cup. The large entry is encouraging, although interestingly it was originally supposed to be contested between thirty-three crews, with seven having scratched since they put their entries in. However, the crews that remain are at the top of J16 sculling and will be contesting for the Fawley Challenge Cup at Henley in a year or two’s time- and some may even attempt to qualify this year.
Aberdeen Schools’
Aberdeen are always are a bit of a dark horse on the rowing circuit (especially in sculling), as they tend to remain in Scotland and rarely make the trip down south to race. This is particularly evident this year, as due to adverse weather conditions at Schools’ Head, all the categories for fours and quads were cancelled. This quad is comprised of half the J16 8+ that will race on the Saturday, which is known to be fast, having taken a Bronze at NSR last year. However, it will likely be the bottom half of the 8+, and it is hard to say whether they will be able to make a sculling boat move as fast as they can a sweep boat.
Claires Court School
After taking the Fawley Challenge Cup in 2016, Claires Court seem to have taken a bit of a dip in performance, overshadowed by the dominance of Maidenhead and Windsor Boys in the Champ Quads. Their J16 squad looks no different, with this crew slipping into 11th place at The Junior Sculling Head back in March. However, they didn’t make an appearance at the recent Junior Sculling Regatta, so it is relatively unknown how fast they really are.
Dulwich College
Dulwich are a school far better known for their eights than their sculling crews and this quad is formed out of their J16 8+. But with no J16 4- entered on the same day, it looks like their top four athletes will be in this boat- and they have already raced in the combination at least twice this season. Back at the Junior Sculling Head, they were probably disappointed to finish 16th, but at the Junior Sculling Regatta they bettered this with a time trial qualifying them into the B-Final with the fastest time. Although they didn’t actually race the final, presumably due to injury or illness, it proves they have gained some speed, and could be competitive.
Hinksey Sculling School
Hinksey are a club based in central Oxford, on the upper reaches of the Thames, but they are not particularly well known on the junior circuit. However, they do have a very strong contingent racing in the sculling events throughout the weekend, and across both boys’ and girls’ categories. Their J16 Quad looks like it could be very strong, with a recent 6th place finish at the Junior Sculling Regatta, in a very respectable 06:35. Given that last years winning time at NSR was a 06:29- they are not far off the pace and should do well.
Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe
RGS have entered two quads into this event- one stroked by Toby Bradshaw (A), and the other by Robert Velica (B). They are a boat club which like many others entered, focus on sculling rather than sweeping, but unfortunately, they have not had any major successes in recent years. These crews placed 17th and 21st at the Junior Sculling Head, but their A crew clearly stepped up the training, and managed a win in the B-Final of the Junior Sculling Regatta, in 06:59. Although not quite on the pace of some of the other crews, I’m sure they’ll have been fighting to try and gain the speed needed to make the A-Final.
Norwich School
This crew from Norwich is another quad that is made up of half their J16 8+, probably the bottom half, going on the assumption that all these clubs will have entered the top half into J16 4-. Although there are not many results to go on as they have been racing as an 8+, they did race at the Junior Sculling Head, placing 12th– so although not at the very top end they will definitely not be slow.
Peterborough City
This quad from Peterborough City looks like it could be a major contender for a medal on the Sunday. They placed 3rd at the Junior Sculling Regatta, six seconds behind the winner, and also recently won at Wallingford Regatta, with a considerable margin. They are serious challengers- and will be hoping to turn that 3rd a couple of weeks ago into a gold medal at Dorney.
Trentham
Trentham is a club based on a lake in Stoke-On-Trent, and they have been seriously on the up since their foundation in 2004, with a large junior contingent now competing for medals on a national stage. This particular crew was very strong in the early season, with a silver medal at the Junior Sculling Head already in the bag. However, it remains to be seen whether they have managed to carry that speed through into the regatta season.
Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School
Borlase’s are known for a strong sculling programme, and this J16 crew is no exception, with their results so far placing them in a very strong position to either medal or come close to medalling. They came 3rd at the Junior Sculling Head, and 2nd behind TSS at the Junior Sculling Regatta, so I’m expecting them to be in the thick of a major tussle in the A-Final.
Team Keane Sculling School
Team Keane are another one of the major London sculling clubs, and usually produce variable results from year to year. This season, the J16 Quad came 14th at the Junior Sculling Head- from that I don’t think they’ll be competing for a medal, but they should be in the upper part of the category.
Tideway Scullers School
TSS are undoubtedly favourites for the gold medal, with an incredible pedigree in sculling as a club, an eight second victory at the Junior Sculling Head, and a four second victory at the Junior Sculling Regatta. They have already asserted their dominance over the other J16 scullers, and it will take something special from another crew to challenge the two boats from TSS.
Wallingford Rowing Club
Wallingford don’t tend to do so well in the bigger boats, and it is often hard to tell how fast they really are. The only indication I have is a very respectable 8th at the Junior Sculling Head- so they are a bit of an unknown quantity.
Wycliffe College
These athletes come from another club which is not well-known, but yet still produces consistently good results in sculling boats. This quad looks fast- and should be another major contender, with a 4th at the Junior Sculling Head, and a very closely contested 5th at the Junior Sculling Regatta. They also produced a bronze medal at Wallingford, losing out to Peterborough.
Other Crews
There are plenty of other clubs that could cause an upset, including two Bedford crews, one from Magdalen College, Emanuel and George Watsons, as well as multiple crews from Kings Chester and Kings Worcester. That is not to mention the two Irish crews from Neptune and St Michaels Limerick, whose speed is completely unknown.
Predictions
Although you can never say for certain, I think results so far this season make it pretty clear who is in the running for medals. My prediction is that Tideway Scullers will take gold, with a battle for silver and bronze taking place behind them between Trentham, Borlase’s, Peterborough and Wycliffe– and I cannot call who will take the silver and the bronze between them.
MarginalGainz
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