National Schools’ Regatta, which is held on the iconic Olympic venue, Dorney Lake, and hosts spectators and athletes alike framed by a colourful patchwork of school flags and gazebos who have all have come to witness a dazzling display of the best of what junior rowing in this country has to offer.
For many J16’s, this will be their first real taste of an event this size, complete with fiercely competitive side-by-side six-lane racing. They will have to learn how race alone against the clock in a time trial, the results of which will determine which final they end up in. If fast enough to make it through to an “A” final, it can then come down to pure will and determination as crews often find themselves racing towards the line in a pure dogfight. For the select few that manage a podium finish, they will walk away knowing what it feels like to have just won one of junior rowing’s most coveted honours.
Because J16 coxed fours are somewhat of an exclusive event to the National Schools’ Regatta, it’s hard to judge any of the 27 entries on recent form. However, if we go back to some of last year’s J15’s results, we can certainly pick out a few boats in this year’s lineup that are worth looking out for.
Team Keane Sculling School
Team Keane is a community-based club and as the name suggests, are predominately known for sculling. However, nothing can stop this popular grassroots club when they put four boys in any boat and they make it go fast – as seen in their second-place finish in the equivalent event at J15 level last year. There is no way of telling if they have any of the same crew in the boat this year, but they are always exciting to watch and definitely, one to keep an eye on.
St Edward’s
Commonly referred to as “Teddies”, St Edward’s is a school with a rich tradition of sweep rowing, with many of their alumni having gone on to represent the school and country at the highest level. Count on this boat being fast not only because of the school’s longstanding respected rowing programme but also because it’s bound to be a boat full of young 16-year-old rowers eager to add their names to the school’s history books.
Norwich School Boat Club
Norwich is a school that starts its rowing program slightly earlier than many of the other rowing programmes racing this weekend. This might account for their victory in the equivalent event at J15 level in 2022. I’m sure they’ll be going out hard to expel any doubters, but the big question will surely be: are they able to build on last year’s success, or have other schools managed to catch up in the meantime?
Westminster School Boat Club
Westminster is another school that needs little introduction when it comes to schoolboy sweep rowing. Although perhaps better known for rowing in eights, Westminster also spends a lot of time on their home waters on the Tideway rowing in fours and I would imagine they stand a very strong chance of at least making it through to the A final.
Yarm School Boat Club
A dark horse of the event is that of Yarm. Often not having the same squad depth as their opposition, Yarm nevertheless came a respectable third in the same event at J15 level last year. Founded in 1978, Yarm School has a strong developing sports program that includes rowing on the river Tees. They are back again and clearly feeling they are in with a chance, but judging from this year’s field, they might have to take it up a level if they have any aspiration of meddling again.
Other crews worth looking out for and who also managed to reach the J15 Coxed Four A Final in 2022 include Kew House and Wallingford Rowing Cub.
Prediction
If I were to make a prediction, I could see Westminster taking the top spot followed by Norwich, who won by almost six seconds at J15 level last year, with the final spot going to either Teddies or even my underdogs of the event, Yarm School.
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