Unfortunately, we are still at a place in the season where racing has been extremely limited due to heavy rain causing high river flow. For these athletes who are still developing their technique and strength, this is massively disappointing. But at the Head of the Nene, we are going to see a well-seasoned fleet of J18 single scullers tearing down the course, but the question is who will take the title of first place.
Star Club
Howard from Star Club has started this year with a bang, achieving a remarkable 29th place at GB U19 Early ID Trials, and he will be looking to use this event as a springboard to the upcoming February trials. In the 2024 season he sculled to a third place finish in the National School’s Regatta C-Final and a first place finish at the British Rowing Championships D-Final. These results show promise, and also how much he’s improved this season, giving Howard a good chance of racing to a first place finish this weekend. Star Club is a relatively new club on the scene, founded in 1960, but have proven themselves successful in junior men’s sculling, with regular qualifications for the Fawley Challenge Cup for at Henley Royal Regatta.
Northampton Rowing Club
From Northampton Rowing Club both Mckenzie and Bryan, previous doubles partners, are looking for a win. Both have shown an aptitude for sculling with fifth place in the Junior 16 double at National Schools regatta as a duo, and a sixth place finish at Junior Inter-Regional Regatta in the double too. Mckenzie has shown a talent on the erg, with a second place finish at National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships, in the Year 11 boys category. Both boys were also attendees of the GB Junior 16 sculling camp in 2024 – showing they can hold their own against members of more prestigious rowing clubs. With some healthy in-club competition, might one of these boys end up bagging first place at the Head of the Nene this weekend.
Broxbourne Rowing Club
Coming from the River Lea in Hertfordshire is Janeway from Broxbourne Rowing Club. Last year he proved himself to be a very competitive rower in his own age category with a fourth place finish in the A-final for Junior 17 single at Junior Sculling Regatta, but at British Rowing Championships in July this dropped to a third place finish in the C-Final for Junior 18 single. Has Janeway made the step-up required to be a competitive Junior 18 single sculler?
Predictions
- Mckenzie – Northampton Rowing Club
- Janeway – Broxbourne Rowing Club
- Bryan – Northampton Rowing Club
- Howard – Star Club
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