On the 20th March 2024, 310 junior crews will take to the Tideway, 12 of which are the J15 eights. Due to the classic British winter conditions, a number of head races which may have been an indicator of the frontrunners in this category have unfortunately been cancelled. The Schools’ Head of The River will show what crews to watch at the end of the head season, as the crews are pitted against each other over the 4.25 mile course.
The first crew setting off in this category is St Paul’s School. This crew will be looking for a promising result at SHORR, building on positive results from Quintin Head, where their two crews achieved first and second place: the success in both their boats suggests good depth in their squad and that their winter training has been effective despite the difficult conditions. It is evident that this crew are both competent sculling and sweeping, after winning gold at last year’s National Schools’ Regatta.
King’s College School come into SHORR with a promising set of results behind them, taking bronze just behind St Paul’s second crew at Quintin. At Hampton Head their crews in both the first and second eight categories achieved bronze just behind Westminster. Perhaps their proximity to the top spot has spurred them on to cinch success at the end of the head season.
Westminster School may also put up a fight, having been high up in the rankings at both Quintin and Hampton Head. This includes a win in the second eight category, suggesting there may be flexibility in their crews. Other crews include Abingdon School, Wallingford, Latymer Upper and Hampton. Interestingly the crew coming from furthest afield is Enniskillen Royal Boat Club, Ireland, suggesting SHORR will be an important measure of the progress of these J15 crews.
Due to the cancellation of Hammersmith Head for these J15 crews, it is unclear who could take the top three coveted spots. However in my opinion, the fight for first will be between two crews: St Paul’s School and King’s College School. At the end of the day, I think KCS could narrowly pip SPS for the gold.
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