The week preceding NSR is one of eternal mystery for a J16. When will the taper begin? Is there even a taper? Why are we doing long pieces a week out? The ever-elusive category is difficult to understand with the differences a mere canvas to a couple of lengths. Many wonder what is it that makes for a fast J16 crew, and this year we have no shortage of them.
Hampton School Boat Club
Much like Latymer last year, Hampton seem to have a dominant J16 cohort. Remnants of the 2022 group have returned to come third at Schools’ Head before beating both Radley and Eton at Wallingford by a length to finish second. They were 28 seconds behind St. Paul’s last year at this event but half a length down this year – their trajectory is only in one direction. Their dress rehearsal at Poplar Regatta last weekend saw them place first and third, albeit with arch-rivals St. Paul’s in the J18 category. Stroked by Tinsel-Roy, this crew has seen a number of changes since last year which is a good indication of evolving squad hierarchy.
Eton College Boat Club
Eton’s dominance at every perceivable schoolboy level is no secret. A silver medal at the Schools’ Head of the River in March was followed up by a slightly below-expectation showing at Wallingford Regatta, where this crew finished fourth. Much like their first eight, this boat are no stranger to a meaty middle four, with the likes of Rybin and Leckie laying down some wattage and a monstrous man in the two-seat Oliver Richardson who is rumoured to pull a 6:23 as a 16-year-old. The crew is steered by Timblo who bronzed in this category last year and will be seeking a shinier resolution in 2023. You simply cannot discount a fully-firing Eton outfit.
St. Paul’s School Boat Club
Another stalwart of the junior rowing community, this group have basically won every category possible since Schools’ Head in 2022. However, with the loss of Wild to their First Eight and recent swap of stroke seat with Shammas for Kalia, this crew could tip in either direction – will they show the faintest glimpse of weakness to challengers or will they reform and reassert their complete dominance? A win at Wallingford will certainly have given them a confidence boost coming into next weekend, so I’m very curious to see if Paul’s can turn the screw on the rest of the field. With Reese’s 6:26 in the six-seat plus the silk in the stern pair of Shammas and Hiorns, this crew has both power and poise. It comes down to that age-old adage – do you prefer being hunted or becoming the hunter?
Radley College Boat Club
Radley are certainly a contender for a medal this weekend – their ding-dong with Hampton, where the two seem unable to be separated by more than a couple of seconds is likely to dominate the contest for minor medals. A win feels like a long shot but coming into an event as the holders can have a strange impact on your crew’s mentality. This boat were third at Wallingford Regatta with a few seats on a chasing Eton. History dictates that Radley only get faster as the season unfolds – can this group steal a summer march on their contemporaries?
Bedford School
Winners of the Junior 16 First Eights category at Schools’ Head of the River in a time which would have placed them sixth amongst championship crews, this unit have picked up speed since their impressive showing on the Tideway. Bedford’s program is led by Pete Mulkerrins and they’re in really good nick approaching the National Schools’ Regatta after picking up three wins in March. They were fifth at Wallingford, a mere 0.2 seconds behind Eton and six seconds back on winners St Paul’s. How much of that deficit can they reclaim on the same waters?
Other Mentions
Shiplake have entered the J16 category but, with little race experience in this unit and a tenth-placed showing at the Schools’ Head, it will be interesting to see how they play into the final. Shrewsbury are racing however they were supposedly beaten by Eton last weekend by seven lengths, who have also claimed to have held off the Shrewsbury first eight. Kings College deserve a mention after a fifth-placed finish in March was followed up by the final berth in the J16 ‘A’ final at Wallingford.
Predictions
- St Paul’s
- Eton
- Hampton
It is pretty hard to look past St Paul’s, who haven’t been bested in this category all season (they lost to Eton at Quintin Head but it looked like they were racing matched eights). The battle for silver and bronze should be quite tasty, with the likes of Hampton, Eton and Radley all throwing the gauntlet down for each other.
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