While the Anna Fangen Cup for Junior 16 Coxed Fours isn’t one of the most hotly contested events at National Schools’ Regatta it is great for smaller clubs with a few top athletes who might not be able to put out an entirely stacked eight to race Coxed fours also give competitors the opportunity to show off their sweeping skills as pure power is not the only thing that will get them over the finish line first. It is nice to see a large number of entries this year from a large and varied number of clubs. But who will take home the gold medal?
Marlow Rowing Club
Marlow RC have produced some excellent results in sweep boats so far this season, and they have shown to have good depth in their squad which will definitely help them this weekend. They placed 1st and 3rd at Wallingford Head and 2nd and 6th later on at Quintin Head. However they have been absent from many of the big events recently, could this be them turning their focus towards making their National Schools’ boats as fast as possible? Also, they haven’t entered any other WJ16 boats for the Saturday so this will probably be quite a strong combination.
Surbiton High School Boat Club A
Surbiton has shown just how dominant they are all season, winning almost every event that they have entered including Quintin (where they beat the aforementioned Marlow), Hampton and both the Champ 8 and 2nd 8 categories at Schools’ Head before winning the WJ16 4+ at Wallingford Regatta. They are clearly a squad to beat this weekend but they have also entered an eight, and as there is no doubling up this year due to the change in format, this could have a knock-on effect on their coxed four.
Godolphin & Latymer School Boat Club
Despite not appearing at many events at all this season Godolphin & Latymer School BC, after coming second in their heat and blasting out the start in the final, placed 5th in the WJ16 4+ at Wallingford Regatta, a result I am sure they were very happy with. These results show that they have the potential to go for a medal this weekend and even possibly come home with the Anna Fangen Cup.
Bedford Girls School Rowing Club
Bedford Girls School are not often one to be found high up a predictors list but their J16s this year have proven they have a shot at medalling this year. They won the GSch J16 8+ category at Schools’ Head this year, with their second eight placing 4th. They also made both of the A finals at Wallingford Regatta in the WJ16 eight and coxed four events showing their capabilities in sweep. However, Bedford have also entered a WJ16 eight so the strength of this four could depend on which boat they have decided to prioritise.
Notable mentions
Honourable mentions must also go to Aberdeen Schools RA, St Edwards School, Emanuel School and Trentham Boat Club. We have seen both ASRA and Emanuel competing in sweep boats this year, with ASRA coming 6th at Schools’ Head and Emanuel fielding a four at Wallingford Regatta. On the flip side, we have yet to see much racing from Teddies and Trentham but they are both clubs that are known for producing competitive boats so I’m sure their entries will be no exception.
Prediction
I believe it will be Marlow and Surbiton battling out for the top spot, with Marlow just nicking the win and I believe the fight for bronze will be between Godolphin & Latymer and Bedford. I am unable to predict who else will make the A final as there are so many entries, that there are bound to be many surprises and upsets.
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