After this year’s gruelling bout of winter training and a lacklustre amount of actual rowing for the majority of clubs, the National Schools’ Regatta has finally come around again, timed perfectly with some pleasant weather at last. The Wimbledon Centenary Cup for women’s J18 second quads is taking place on the Saturday and has 9 crews entered with some clubs even entering two boats into the category.
Wycliffe College Boat Club
Wycliffe College placed first in this category last year, so I’m sure they are back eager to defend their title. This club is exceptionally strong at sculling, having reached the semifinals of the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta last year and more recently placing first at Schools’ Head by an impressive 27 seconds. There are fewer results available for the Wycliffe B quad but they did place sixth at the Junior Sculling Head in March. Placing sixth as a second quad in the overall quads category suggests that they are a strong contender for the top spot in this category at NSR.
Great Marlow School Boat Club
Great Marlow School is a familiar name in the junior rowing circuit with a particularly strength in sculling. Earlier in the regatta season they showed some promise, having placed sixth at Wallingford Regatta in the WJ18 Quads and tenth at the Junior Sculling Regatta. However, these events did not have a second quad option so it is unclear whether the crew entered into NSR is exactly the same or composed of a completely different crew.
Lea Rowing Club
Lea Rowing Club have entered 2 crews into this category demonstrating the impressive depth of their squad. Lea recently raced at the Junior Sculling Regatta with their A quad placing second in the A final and their B quad placing third in the B final. This suggests that their confidence in their squads has a good foundation, making them one to watch.
Other notable entrants are Molesey Boat Club who placed fourth in the quads at Schools’ Head, and Claires Court School Boat Club, who placed ninth in the same event, although I cannot find any results from a B quad at any recent events from either club.
Predictions
I predict that Wycliffe will place first, Great Marlow School will place second and Lea Rowing Club and Molesey be left competing for third.
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