The British junior rowing calendar knows no rest.
Just 24 hours after the Schools’ Head of The River, the UK’s top scullers journeyed to Eton for their first (and perhaps only) competitive session of the year.
A pristine lake met the 500 crews, setting the stage for a proper inspection of the pre-summer pecking order.
Open Championship Quads
Putting to rest any suggestion that the The Windsor Boys’ School resurgence at The Schools’ Head of The River came at the expense of ‘traditional’ 2k speed, Mark Wilkinson’s squad took no prisoners today, putting twenty seconds into the next-fastest outfit, Great Marlow School Boat Club. Looking more dynamic than any other crew on the water, the circuit’s fastest state school programme looks set to dominate for another year. Behind GMS, Shiplake took a surprise third place, hinting that – as has often been rumoured – Shiplake remains the best ‘all-round’ programme on the junior circuit. The rest of the rankings were shaken up overnight, with the likes of Molesey Boat Club and Leander Club tumbling down the order, suggesting significant crew changes.
Women’s Championship Quads
The last-minute Tideway Scullers School scratch opened the gates for a new crew to take the crown at The Scullery, with the ever-present Wycliffe College rising to the challenge. Another outfit now synonymous with bleeding-edge performance, Greg Flower’s top crew dominated the timing sheets, finishing ten seconds clear of their closest challenger. Sir William Perkin’s School Rowing Club were the closest challenger, emerging from the winter shadows to finish with a silver medal likely to alarm some of the more established programmes. Behind them, Henley Rowing Club, Headington School, and Shiplake College rounded out the top five.
Junior 17 Quads
The alma mater of Sir Chris Hoy (yes, the cyclist) it was George Watson’s College who took home the top prize in the junior 17 quads. No doubt bolstered by Ezra Ferguson, the veteran Great Britain international single sculler, this unit may pose a serious challenge to the old guard both this year and next, with this group eligible for championship races for the next two seasons. Windsor Boys’ and Walton Rowing Club completed the podium.
On the women’s side it was another dominant performance from Wycliffe College, who beat Hartpury College, a duo that separated themselves from an otherwise intensely competitive field. Third place went to Glasgow Academy, one of four medals from Scottish representatives across all events. Notable performances further down the field including a sixth-place finish from Yarm School, a programme that continues to punch above its weight, and Sir William Perkin’s School, who, although finishing eleventh, were only a few seconds away from topping the midfield, a sign that the renewed competitiveness coming out of the SWPS camp is here to stay.
Junior 16 Quads
Unsurprisingly, it was the Windsor Boys’ School that claimed victory in the junior 16 quads, though Walbrook Rowing Club’s silver medal may come as a surprise to some: a crew to watch as the season progresses. Marlow Rowing Club finished third, beating the Windsor Boys’ ‘B’ crew to the last remaining spot on the podium.
Marlow Rowing Club finished on top in the women’s J16 quads, a reassuring result for a club that has so far struggled to reach their usual heady heights in the championship categories. Ten seconds behind, George Heriot’s School took second place, securing Scotland’s second medal of the day. The ever-present Headington School finished third.
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