NSW Small Boats Regatta – U19 Men’s Single Scull Preview

The U19 men’s single scull boasts an exciting field of athletes this year, with a large cohort of non-metro competitors showing the growing strength of regional schools and clubs against Sydney’s superpowers. The entries contain almost half of the schoolboy sculling medal table from last year’s National Championships; it’s sure to be a red-hot field of returning athletes out for revenge and newcomers looking to make a mark.

Mosman Rowing Club (T. Elias)

Mosman’s T. Elias is a strong contender for a win in the single at this year’s Small Boats Regatta. He is coming off a win in the U19 single at RNSW’s Reindeer Regatta with a large margin alongside a silver medal in the schoolboy double scull at last year’s National Championships.

Mosman has been making a considerable effort to rebuild its junior and development squad in the last few years after a drop-off in athletes following coaching changes at the club. Elias has been a strong addition to the club’s rebuild, initially as part of the Northern Beaches Secondary Schools squad. With a history of strong performances in small boats and under the coaching of dual Olympian Rowena Meredith and Australian representative Tom Shramko, Elias has plenty of potential to make a mark in his first race of the championship season.

Kinross Wolaroi (H. Dymock)

Regional powerhouse Kinross Wolaroi is never in short supply of skilled junior athletes, and H. Dymock is no exception. The junior sculler entered the season off the back of a silver medal campaign in the schoolboy quad at last year’s National Championships and, more recently, a silver medal in the schoolboy single scull at the All Schools Championships.

Dymock is undoubtedly another in a growing line of impressive junior athletes developed in Orange, and he will certainly be eager to improve on his recent silver placings.

Hunter Valley Grammar School (L.Purdie)

Another regional competitor with plenty of potential, returning to SIRC after a medal-hauling season, L. Purdie, will have a rematch with H. Dymock should they be drawn together this weekend. Where Kinross’ Dymock collected silver at last year’s All Schools Championship, Purdie got away with the gold with a three-second lead. Purdie also collected gold in the schoolboy quad against Dymock’s crew from Kinross, so claiming the sculling title at Small Boats would certainly set him up well for a run at a back-to-back National Championship.

Marist College Canberra (H. Braithwaite)

Making the trip up the Hume Highway to compete this weekend will be reigning U17 men’s single scull national champion H. Braithwaite. Marist College Canberra has produced a line of successful underage scullers in recent years, with two U21 Trans-Tasman representatives graduating from the College in the last four years, an impressive feat from a relatively young program to compete with well-funded metro club athletes and Sydney’s AAGPS machine. Braithwaite is certainly in contention to follow in the footsteps of his older peers when he returns to Penrith for the first time this season and will be a good addition to watch in the lineup of familiar athletes.

Prediction

If recent results are an accurate guide, the battle for top of the podium will come down to the fight between Mosman’s Elias and the Hunter’s Purdie, although an upset is just as likely. Dymock will be fighting hard to close the gap between himself and the gold medal, and although the field may have an extra year of racing under their belts, newcomer Braithwaite shouldn’t be discounted.

In perfect conditions, we could see an epic race play out between these four, coming right down to the line. In a pinch, I would pitch Elias for the win, with a race too close to call for the minor placings between Braithwaite, Purdie and Dymock.

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