We’re back! This Friday, 546 crews return to Eton Dorney Rowing Lake to compete in the seventeenth-ever Junior Sculling Head. Being on a lake and therefore protected from floods, this year’s event is sure to be one to watch as crews from across the country come back together after the disrupted season so far. Competing over a 3600m distance composed of two 1800m legs, 41 sets of J16 quads will battle it out, with the likes of Windsor Boys’ School, Tideway Scullers School, Molesey Boat Club, Kingston Rowing Club and Lea Rowing Club all competing in this year’s competition. One notable absence, however, are Wycliffe who had a thriving year last year, though one can only expect that they will make their big return in the upcoming regatta season.
Windsor Boys’ School Boat Club
Looking to retain their title, Windsor could continue their domination of schoolboy rowing, and after missing out on first place in their J15 category last year to Wycliffe this could be their year. Their second crew, too, might prove a formidable force and we could even see a double Windsor podium if the school keeps up their reputation of rowing prowess. Windsor’s prestige also seems apparent from the volume of crews they have entered, with a fleet of entries not only in this category but also in the J15 eights and coxed quads, a testament to their firm foundation as a rowing programme.
Tideway Scullers School
Tideway have come on well since last year, when they were already placing sixth in the competition. This year’s force seems somewhat superior though, already proving successful at Hammersmith Head, where they gave a domineering performance when stacked up against key competition. Knowing they have the potential, and a proven advantage over crews already, could be formative in securing Tideway’s success. Another prestigious rowing foundation, Tideway have got strong support with 12 crews entering across the day’s racing.
Tiffin School Boat Club
Starting off fourth this year (a big improvement on the positioning of the club from last year) Tiffin have been put in a position ready to challenge for a medal. Chasing down Molesey, they will hope to improve on their position at this year’s Hampton Head, where they finished fourth in the J16 quads category. This is a big comeback from last year’s performance at the Junior Sculling Head, where the crew placed fifteenth in their category: a testament to what hard work and committed training can achieve.
Lea Rowing Club
Winners of Hampton Head, Lea return in striking orange to reoccupy the lanes of Dorney. Like Tiffin, they have also had an improvement after finishing a somewhat disappointing twenty-eighth in their own category, while last year’s J16 came-in at eighth. The vast amounts of indoor training these crews have been doing will certainly see an increase in the strength and endurance of these crews, who have not let flooding hold them back.
Molesey Rowing Club
Equally prestigious Molesey will be eyeing the podium, after just missing out on a medal in last year’s J15 race, coming in fourth. Also racing in Hampton (finishing second), Molesey will seek a rematch with Lea (who are starting further down) and the return to the familiar regatta straight may spur them on and give them the energy they need to achieve their goal. However, they will be threatened by a closely pursuing Tiffin and a second Windsor crew, who will not let Molesey get too far ahead.
Predictions
Looking ahead, I’m sure the crews will enjoy just being able to race, and even better on a stretch of water that is not only familiar but relatively consistent. While these athletes are taking the step up from their J15 level, where crews are coxed, I’m sure they will have been able to adapt over the winter with whatever training they have been able to fit in.
As far as a prediction would go, I expect a Windsor win, with a tussle for the other podium seats between Molesey, Lea and Tideway, while Tiffin may strive to convolute this order. As ever, major upsets aren’t impossible, and it would be great to see an underdog surprise all and climb the rankings, we’ll just have to wait until Friday to find out!
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