The National Schools’ Regatta is one of the biggest regattas of the year in schoolboy rowing, if not the biggest. This year’s looks to include some ferocious racing and close finals. The Second Eight’s category is an often-sought-after accolade to show the depth of the squads, and the power that is to come through next season. Not only is this a great category for some quick racing but it is still composed of some big school rowing names, such as Shiplake, Eton and St Pauls.
Shiplake College Boat Club ‘A’
Shiplake J16’s had a show stopping finale to last year, qualifying for the Temple Challenge Cup amidst intense competition. None of this eight raced in this event last year, but three of the crew for this weekend were in the winning J16 8+ that raced here last year. Their B boat was off the pace at Wallingford, against a similar outfit, but I think they’ll achieve a top place here.
Pangbourne College Boat Club
Pangbourne did not enter this event last year, and their J16 8+ crew did not perform as well as they could have, and therefore they are unlikely to be competing against the top crews here. That being said, they won the final of the School’s Eights at Wallingford regatta, and therefore have proved that they’ve done the mileage over winter and are capable of doing well.
Eton College Boat Club
The Eton B boat did not perform particularly well at Wallingford Regatta, coming 4th in the Final, behind the Pangbourne A boat. This, however, is a different race and I think that the Etonians are capable of placing in the top 5 here. Their pedigree is undoubtedly existent and this is likely to push them into those top spots especially following on from the win in this category last year.
Bedford School Boat Club
Bedford did exceedingly well in the J16 8+ at the School’s Head of the River, but it remains unknown how this eight will do here. They have definitely got great depth in their squad which augurs well for this category.
Abingdon School Boat Club
Abingdon scratched at School’s head of the river and did not race at Wallingford, and therefore it is hard to predict how this crew will perform in an event like this. Abingdon came 4th in this event’s semi-final last year but will obviously be hoping for more this year. It will be exciting to see how they place.
Hampton School Boat Club
Hampton came 2nd in last year’s NSR in the same event so will be keen to turn over the result and take the pole position. Eton do not seem to be as strong as they were last year, but neither do Hampton, after coming 7th at School’s head in the Second Eights category, behind Pauls, Shrewsbury, Eton and Shiplake.
St Paul’s School Boat Club
The Paulines won the School Second Eights category at Schools Head and are therefore likely to dominate this event. Shrewsbury were not too far behind them and therefore they’ll be watching them eagerly. St Pauls came third in this event last year but I think that they’ll take the gold this year.
Royal Shrewsbury School Boat Club
The boys from Shrewsbury have had an impressive campaign so far, bettering themselves off the back of a Henley Royal semi-final last season. They placed second to Paul’s at Schools Head, so they should be capable of beating the Etonians and the rest of the clubs to achieve a spot in the top two.
The Kings School, Chester
Kings came 8th in the Champ 8+ at Schools Head but 11th in the J16 8+ event. The School’s Second Eight category is therefore a new one for them. Therefore, it is hard to predict how they’ll row. That being said, they always perform well, and therefore they’re likely to come in the middle of the pack.
Kings College School Boat Club ‘B’
KCS did not place so well at School’s Head and Wallingford, but, having moved some seats around, they might have found some more speed for this. KCS are unlikely to be challenging the likes of Pauls and Eton but will definitely find a good place somewhere in the middle. Contrary to that, they are often seen to defy the odds, and therefore, it’s hard to predict.
Canford School Boat Club ‘A’
Canford placed towards the bottom in the Schools Second Eight category at School’s Head, and therefore they’re unlikely to cause an upset at NSR. That being said, they’ve fielded some strong squads over the years, so they’re capable, but not necessarily this year.
Predictions
I predict that St Pauls will take the top spot, with Eton and Shrewsbury fighting for the second spot. It’s likely that Shrewsbury will take it though. Shiplake will therefore take 4th and then Hampton or KCS. After that it’s too close to predict.
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