As the junior boys’ head racing season reaches its climax, the stage is set for an intense and fiercely contested race. With crews looking to make their final statement of the season, every stroke will count as they battle for dominance on the Tideway. With last year’s winner – Norwich School – bumping up into the championship category, the stage is set for a new victor to emerge.
Great Marlow School
Setting the pace at the front of the pack, Great Marlow will seek to create clear water between themselves and the chasing crews. After securing joint first place at Hammersmith Head alongside Kew House School in the junior intermediate eights, they will be eager to establish a decisive lead over their rivals and assert their dominance in this event. It is likely that this crew will contain the school’s top athletes, which include Ethan Hunt, who placed 18th at the most recent round of U19 GBRT Trials.
St George’s College
Bronze medallists in 2024, St George’s College will seek a further step or two up the podium. They consistently perform well at this level, finding speed as the season progresses, and were most recently seen at Kingston Head, where they placed seventh in junior eights. With two athletes finishing 28th at the February U19 GBRT Trials in the form of Jonathan Butler and Barnaby Doyle, they will be hoping their advanced starting position and the ability to keep King’s School Chester and Great Marlow School in their crosshairs will push them on.
King’s School Chester
Traditionally a championship school, King’s School Chester make the slight step down to first eights for 2025 after placing 13th in the former category at this event in 2024. Incidentally, their time would have put them third in first eights, so the decision to do so can be justified on that basis. Make no bones about it though – they’ll be aiming for the victory this time around. Their first eight won junior eights at the Head of the Trent, placing ninth overall, whilst they had four eights at Wycliffe Big Head in early February. Out of nine boats, their eights were in positions six, seven, eight and nine but the competition ahead was Radley and Shiplake.
Claires Court School
Although better known for their sculling prowess, Claires Court have an eight starting sixth in this event. They finished tenth at Hammersmith Head, but as a club renowned for producing strong athletes, they will likely have more in the tank for their second run down the Tideway. Expect them to challenge the crews ahead as they push to climb the rankings.
Kew House School
With a 19th-place finish out of 33 at Quintin Head and a joint first place at Hammersmith Head, Kew House will be determined to defend their home waters. Racing on familiar territory could provide them with an edge, and given their historic Henley Royal Regatta campaign last year—qualifying both their men’s and women’s eights for the first time in club history—they will be eager to build on that momentum. As they close out the head season, they’ll look to improve last year’s success and make a statement.
Hampton School
Placing a solid fifth at Hammersmith Head, Hampton’s second eight has positioned themselves well for a competitive race. With a program that consistently produces top-tier athletes, training alongside their formidable first eight will undoubtedly provide them with valuable experience. Expect a well-drilled and powerful performance as they take on the Tideway.
Emanuel School
Having finished seventh in this event in 2024, their sole aim will be to climb into the top five courtesy of a strong row on home waters. The firepower is certainly there with two triallists in the GB system – Thomas Pearson and Chester Hall. The programme underwent a coaching change at the end of last season, so their performance next week will be scrutinised.
Prediction
With their joint first-place finish at Hammersmith Head, Great Marlow School and Kew House School are likely to be the front-runners, setting the pace early on. King’s School Chester are likely to be competitive whilst St George’s College are also veterans of this interlock. Hampton School, with their strong fifth-place finish, could be a serious challenger, while Claires Court School may surprise with their athletic depth despite being better known for their sculling. Expect a fierce battle at the top, with the leading crews pushing hard to establish clear water and assert their dominance on the Tideway.
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