With covid having had an impact on the size and scope of schoolboy rowing in the previous year and a half, one could argue that small boat events at NSR 2021 are more wide open than ever before, especially with the absence of heavy hitters Enniskillen Royal Boat Club and Westminster School. With only eight boats in the field battling for six places in an A-Final, compared with twenty in 2019, it means getting into the final for the majority will be relatively easy. The race for medals, less so.
St Paul’s School Boat Club
Ever the perennial challengers in seemingly any sweep events, this year proves not exception for the boys representing the famous black and white of St Paul’s, who will likely be confident of medalling and with good reason. They previously won gold in this event two years ago, stroked by World Junior silver medalist Joseph Middleton, who has graduated this year to the heady height of the Championship 8+. With Middleton out of the equation, hopes now rest on the shoulders of a crew stroked by Jamin Son alongside Aditya Jain at three, Callum Ellder at two, and Oscar Vitou bringing up the rear. Vitou as well has big shoes to fill, as his seat was occupied last by Cameron Spiers, part of the Goldie crew that beat Oxford in the Reserve Boat Race in April. If they can step up to the mark, there is no telling what this crew could achieve.
Hampton School Boat Club
Another London school that will be gunning for the top prize, Hampton will go into the event looking to right past wrongs in this event, as their previous boat in this event failed to qualify for either the B or A finals. However, Hampton to have a small and important piece of history on their side. The 1999 Hampton crew are the record holders in this event, with their time of 6:13.75 having stood for longer than their current crew have been alive. Two of those current crew, Thomas Cross and Jasper Lyon were part of the J16 8+ that was forced to withdraw from the B final two years ago, no doubt making them hungry for a good result. Their chances are helped by the inclusion of J16 2nd 8+ bronze medalists Charlie Sutton and Johnny Dinnan which could produce a killer combination.
Radley College Boat Club
Potentially the most significant challenge to the ability of other crews to dictate the medals, will come from the Radley four. Having put in enough effort to win bronze in 2019, a similar combination is present here. Three seat Alex Pearson, the latest member of a rowing dynasty that has captured two Princess Elizabeth Cups and a couple of Boat Race appearances courtesy of brothers Charlie and Henry provides a powerful anchor to a boat packed with talent. His dynamism, coupled with that of Calver Barnes (who only started rowing in September and who has already showcased his athletic ability in the crews win over Hampton earlier this month) Justin Lam and Harry Plumstead makes a crew that is not just capable of medaling: they are capable of winning.
St Georges School Boat Club
A dark horse in this event comes from the men of St Georges School Boat Club. Although not achieving the same success at a National level as schools like Radley or St Pauls, the Championship 8+ appearances at Henley over the past few years has brought the club more into the national rowing conversation. Three members of the crew (Jack Gilligan ,Ferdinand Robson and Max Gover) all come from the J16 8+ who missed out on qualification for the B final in 2019 by only 1.02 seconds, a fact that will no doubt inspire a desire to cut down on margins of error. The remaining member, Harrison Peck will have his first taste of racing in a senior boat, having previously represented the school in a 4th place finishing 8x+ in 2019. Can they bring home the Royal Engineers Cup? We shall see.
Final Predictions:
1st- Radley
2nd- St Paul’s
3rd- Hampton/St George’s
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