With Schools’ Head falling on the same week as junior sculling head, usually entries aren’t always to the same strength or volume that race the Tideway stretch. However, the scullery offers event medals to the top 3 A, B and C crews within a category, which gives all athletes an increased chance at claiming silverware chance and is always enticing to coaches with smaller programmes. The shorter distance provides exceptional side-by-side racing up and down the Dorney Lake course and can throw a few surprises into the results. With a shock absence from regulars Leander not being entered into this event, we see 26 crews competing for a top spot on Wednesday.
Windsor Boys School
The exceptional programme that needs no introduction: coached by the most phenomenal and technical coach,. Mark Wilkinson who is notorious for producing exceptional crews year on year, with this season posing no exception. Nearing into the regatta season, I imagine this Windsor crew is hungry to avenge last year’s Henley result, with hopes to perpetuate recent successful head race results. With their A crew being the favourites on paper, we cannot rule out the speed of Windsor’s B crew, making day 3 of Henley Royal, I presume this will be the same crew members of last season. In my opinion this boat will prevail over the other second crews entered, which will earn them a medal at next Wednesday’s event. Windsor also have a C crew entered, which I feel will end up in the top half of the results this Wednesday, considering the pedigree of Mark Wilkinsons programme.
Henley Rowing Club
With an exceptional 2 boats entered from Henley, we won’t be surprised to see them fighting for a top spot. Last season seen Henley produce some very strong results. These include a 4th place in the Championship Quads at National schools and a Friday finish at Henley Royal. The technical prowess of young J17 Guy Hutchins and the strength from former Leander man, Dan Landau, Henley may close the gap against Windsor. The “B” crew meanwhile can’t be ignored, featuring the former Peterbrough athlete Finn Ribbons, who is well experienced racing through his J15 and J16 years. This may give Henley the extra experience to close in on the Windsor “B” crew.
King’s School Worcester
Based on the river severn, slightly south of Birmingham, King’s Worcester is a rapidly developing club with many growing successes in recent years. An exceptional milestone for them was qualifying boats in the PE, Fawley and Junior Women’s Eights last season at Henley Royal. However, King’s have mustered 2 fast moving Quads for JSH’s Championship Boys Quads. The depth within this squad shows the A crew may be something to look out for. With most of these athletes returning from the Fawley qualifying crew last season, they are clearly building from their Thursday finish from last season. With the well regarded powerhouse of Luke Beever in the A crew I’m sure he will be part of a formidable crew, that will lead Kings to a respectable placing on Wednesday.
Marlow Rowing Club
Marlow, forever hunting to build back on their victory at the 2013 Fawley Challenge Cup. We have seen a slight glimpse of this in recent years, as this is the 2nd season Marlow have produced a quad to compete at a high level. Last season seen their J16 quad get a bronze medal at the British Rowing Junior Championships, plus a success in the B final at National Schools in the Championship double event. The most notable result from one of Marlows athletes in this crew, is Niall Parsons, who achieved a 14th place at the recent November junior GB trials. With Niall in this boat, I feel he will give this boat an extra lift on Wednesday. With their J16s from last season, currently in their J17 year I’d expect most of this bronze medal winning crew to be in this crew this Wednesday.
Warrington Rowing Club
Warrington, based up north in between Manchester and Liverpool on the river Mersey. Always known for producing prominent GB female athletes. Just to name a few: Lucy Glover, Ella Stanhope and Cam Nyland. Coached by the highly experienced junior coach, John McQuillian, these 4 boys may be seen as the complete underdogs for this event. It is known that this crew has done much on-water testing with the bow seat, to determine whether his “mullet” hairstyle produces some extra speed for this crew. After the complete domination at recent North West head races, being 6th down the track, and an impressive showcase unsocial media, they should be going into next week full of confidence and determination.
Worthy Mentions
Wycliffe College could surprise a lot of people, they posted the fastest time of the day at their own head race and have been rising the ranks, perhaps they will grow from a Henley Wednesday last season. Plus, Lea Rowing Club could be in medal contention because of their amazing Saturday finish at Henley Royal last season and general reverence regarding fast paced sculling crews.
Prediction
On the back of schools head there is always less competition at this event, but it will always bring some close and incredible racing. Here is what I will expect on Wednesday:
1st: Windsor Boys School “A”
2nd: Henley Rowing Club “A”
3rd: Windsor Boys School “B”
4th: Marlow Rowing Club
5th: Warrington Rowing Club
6th: Wycliffe College
7th: King’s School Worcester
8th: Lea Rowing Club
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