With Schools’ Head just around the corner, many programs have chosen to remain at home, making last-minute refinements to crews in preparation for the big day. Moreover, many of the school entrants here have chosen to enter a higher up category. Nonetheless, there are still 4 entrants into J18 8+’s, looking to get some extra race practice in along the 4.6km stretch.
Shiplake College Boat club
Shiplake lay down a huge marker at Hammersmith Head, with their first VIII clocking a 10:27, a full 8 seconds ahead of last years winners St Paul’s. However, it would appear that they have elected to enter Open 8+’s at Reading, meaning that the crew in this category is likely to be their second VIII. They posted the fifth fasted time of the second VIIIs at Quinten so clearly aren’t lacking in depth. Bolstered by a gold medal winning J16 Year Group entering the mix, Shiplake have their eyes on the Queen Mother Cup come May and will want to prove their credentials by showing off their squad depth and going toe to toe with some first VIII’s.
Monkton Coombe School Boat club
Monkton Coombe has chosen to enter two eights into this category. Both of the names attached were J16s last year in a 4+ that came 19th a Nationals. However, much can change in the jump from J16 to Senior Squads and they’ve been put in the mix with their elder peers who finished an impressive 5th in J18 4+ at Nationals last year. I don’t know whether these are matched VIIIs or not but with Schools’ Head right around the corner, this seems unlikely.
Bedford Modern School Boat Club
Last year the limelight was somewhat stolen by Bedford Modern’s crosstown rivals, but these boys are consistent competitors and will have built up a bank of racing experience and knowledge. The name attached to the crew raced in their J18 VIII last year at Nationals, suggesting that they have retained some of last year’s athletes. They will now be in their last year competing in black and red and will have been boosted by a new cohort of ex-J16’s. Bedford Modern will be looking to step on and improve on last year’s results
Prediction
The absence of most of the bigger names in Junior Rowing will have Bedford Modern and Monkton Coombe looking to pick up a win. However, whatever is happening on the river in Oxfordshire is clearly working and Shiplake has produced two very fast VIII’s this year. This one may be the slower of the two, but nonetheless, I think they will have enough firepower to take the win back home to Henley with them.
Tidewaysweeper
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