The stepping stone season between relative novice and seasoned racer, the J16 year is captioned by the National Schools’ Regatta, which is most athlete’s one chance at a national title. With 40 crews slated to compete for the Simon Sears Cup, this promises to be a fascinating watch.
A.B. Severn Boat Club
Winners at the Junior Sculling Regatta by nearly three seconds, this crew look well-prepared for a tilt at gold. Gracie Janes was a British Rowing Championships winner in 2022 in the J14 doubles and this crew were together to win a bronze at the Junior Sculling Regatta last year + a silver and gold at JIRR in singles. With over 12 months experience rowing together, they’re a well-oiled machine with pedigree on their side.
Warrington Rowing Club
This crew were fourth at the Junior Sculling Regatta and will be eyeing up a better result on Sunday. Lucy Fontana raced in this event last year, placing sixth in the ‘B’ final. They’re technically the closest challengers to A.B. Severn, based solely off Junior Sculling Regatta results, where they were five seconds back.
Sir William Perkins School
Bronze medalists in this event last year, Sir William Perkins are effervescently active in the lower age bracket. Sophie Daniels was in the SWP crew that won bronze at the Junior Sculling Regatta and is partnered by Emily Nicholas, who alongside Daniels finished fifth in the girl’s junior 15 coxed quads at the National Schools’ Regatta 2023.
Peterborough City Rowing Club
With one crew change from the boat that placed fifth at the Junior Sculling Regatta, Anouk Bosma is partnered with Jasmin Chesher, who raced up an age group at the latter event. Both athletes were in the Peterborough outfit that finished third in the ‘B’ final of girl’s junior 15 coxed quads last year.
Maidenhead Rowing Club
A club who consistently rank highly on the junior rowing circuit, the Maidenhead ‘K’ crew – comprised of Daniya Al Qahef and Rachel Robson – were sixth at the Junior Sculling Regatta but over ten seconds off the pace set by A.B. Severn. If they can claw back some of that deficit, it would represent a promising performance.
City of Bristol Rowing Club
Daisy O’Reilly won the women’s junior 16 single at the Junior Sculling Regatta and switches into the double for this event. She is joined by Megan Brixey, who coxed a women’s junior 14 quad at the same event. CoB have a long and proud history of producing competent junior crews and this crew are showing no signs of bucking that trend.
Prediction
Hard to look past A.B. Severn here, who are the class crew in what is a fairly scattered field. I think Sir William Perkins will collect the silver, followed by Warrington in bronze.
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