Here we go! This could be the final race marking a lot of athletes’ careers for their club and 2024 sees a whopping 20 crews racing for the coveted Nick Bevan Cup. I think it’s safe to say we are in for a treat this weekend. The format is a time-trial straight to the final.
Westminster School Boat Club
Westminster have been relatively quiet this year. In what seems like a rebuilding year for the school, their first eight has had a decent run, placing sixth at the Schools’ Head of the River whilst the boys in pink are yet to put out a second eight this season. With the usual quality of athletes Westminster School Boat Club produces we can expect a strong run down the track come Sunday from both Filip Petreanu and Oskar Grenmark-Pittaway, the latter of whom won a silver in the open junior 16 coxed fours last year. Having spent the year in the pair together they would have had a chance to build some speed and could be strong contenders this weekend.
Nottinghamshire County Rowing Association
Back to better their fourth-place finish in 2023, NCRA are a club on the rise. Joseph Smith and Cory Johnson both featured in this crew last year and will be very keen to make the jump from nearly-rans to certified medalists, although they were 20 seconds back on bronze at Dorney in 2023.
Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association
Henrik Gundersen and Callum Sherwood return in 2024 for another crack at the Nick Bevan Cup for open championship pairs. They were sixth overall in 2023 and will be looking to improve upon that standing and perhaps even climb onto the podium in a wider and deeper field. ASRA are no strangers to championship medals at the National Schools’ Regatta and took home the female equivalent of this race in 2022.
Hampton School Boat Club
Hampton School Boat Club has had a surprisingly strong run this year and seem to be on the ascendancy. In the eight, their first boat placed an impressive ninth at the Schools’ Head of the River but have not been seen in open competition since. Much like Westminster however they are notorious for having a large squad group and their impressive talent in small boats has filtered down through the club. This is evidenced by some notable runs at the GB Pairs Regatta with two pairs entered into the event. It would be a mistake to overlook the pairing of Raza and Weaver this weekend and I would not be surprised if they turn a few crews over come this weekend.
King’s School Chester Boat Club
Much like Westminster, King’s School Chester Boat Club have a modest selection of junior 18 crews entered this weekend. Their first eight have stepped on since the Schools’ Head of the River where they placed 13th in the open championship category. They picked up an impressive gold this past weekend at Shrewsbury Regatta against some fierce competition. Louis Hayter was in the open junior 15 eight that finished second in the ‘C’ final at the National Schools’ Regatta last year whilst Finlay Noble rowed in the second eight which placed fifth in the ‘B’ final.
Emanuel School Boat Club
Emanuel School Boat Club came into this event as defending champions following the impressive performance of Williams and Thurman in 2023. I would not be surprised if the pairing of Pearson and Hall from Emanuel School Boat Club caused a couple of upsets come Sunday. Pearson was in the eight-placed open championship coxed four in 2023 whilst Hall joins this pairing from the junior 16 ranks. With winning pedigree on their side, it is likely this category will be a focus for the club.
Notable Mentions
The category is also inclusive of several prominent pairings from across the British Rowing spectrum. Tideway Scullers have entered the pairing of Marat Aksenenko and Felix Buttle, the latter of whom moved over to TSS this season after rowing for Team Keane Sculling School in 2023. Watch out also for Wallingford Rowing Club, who take two crew members from their open junior 16 coxed four of 2023. Newark Rowing Club have two of the crew who won the ‘B’ final of second quads at last year’s event.
Prediction
With several returning crews from last year’s ‘A’ final, we could be set for a convergence of experience and redemption matched with the fresh exuberance and impetus of boats with nothing to lose. I can see NCRA improving upon their fourth in 2023 but they’ll face stern tests from the big brands, including Westminster and Hampton.
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