“This is the end, hold your breath and count to ten”; Adele’s lyrics to Skyfall might not be the most sound advice, but it does hold some truth – we’ve finally reached the end of winter training. The long UT2 mileage in the dark and the early mornings have come to an end, and after Tuesday’s racing, we will officially be into the summer regatta season. 14 Junior 16 championship eights will take to the Tideway in a bid to secure themselves the first national title of the 2024/2025 season. With last year’s race cancelled for J15s, this will be their first Schools’ Head of the River, and for some crews, it will be their first time navigating the unforgiving, difficult waters of the Tideway. For the first time this season, all the major heavy-hitting crews will be in one place, guaranteeing some fast and tight racing.
St Paul’s School Boat Club
There’s no denying their speed. Last year, St Paul’s School dominated the National Schools’ Regatta, winning by seven seconds, triumphed at the Schools’ Head replacement by over 30 seconds, and clocked an impressive 6:10 2K time at Poplar Regatta. So far this season, their mixed eights have continued the streak with victories at Docklands Head, BASHER Head, and Quintin Head. Despite battling injury and illness, they placed seventh in the junior championship eights at Hammersmith Head, outperforming their own senior second eight and Radley’s and King’s College’s senior second eights, highlighting their skill against more experienced crews. With seven GB trialists on board, the most J16s to ever trial from a single club, they boast unmatched power, rivalling even Junior 18 eights. Under the guidance of Brestciani, an experienced Tideway cox, everything seems to be aligning for St. Paul’s to continue their winning legacy next Tuesday. But will they deliver as expected, or will a slip-up cost them victory?
Kings College School Boat Club
On the rise? Without a doubt. Winning potential? One. Hundred. Percent. After a largely underwhelming Junior 14 season, this crew made significant strides in their Junior 15 season. They placed third at the Schools’ Head Replacement, reached the A-final at Wallingford Regatta, and finished third in the National Schools’ Regatta time trial. However, due to so-called “dodgy marshalling,” they narrowly missed out on a medal in the final, an injustice they seem determined to rectify this season. KCS dominated Teddington Head, winning by 57 seconds whilst beating out the J18 Dulwich College mixed eights. At Quintin Head, they split the St. Paul’s Junior 16 mixed eights, securing second place on time, though penalties saw them officially ranked third. They built on that momentum at Hammersmith Head, taking gold in the Junior 16 category ahead of key rivals like Radley and Hampton, though they finished 11 seconds behind a weakened Paul’s A boat. After a short break from racing, they returned at Kingston Head two weeks ago, finishing nearly half a minute ahead of last year’s National Schools’ Regatta silver medalists, Hampton. With clear speed and relentless progress, they’ll be in prime position for a podium finish on Tuesday. If anyone is going to dethrone the boys from Barnes, it will be King’s.
Hampton School Boat Club
Having lost some of their top athletes to the Hampton senior first eight, this crew seems to have lost a bit of its spark. As J15s, they spent the season chasing St. Paul’s, finishing behind them at the Schools’ Head Replacement and National Schools’ Regatta. However, they did secure gold at Wallingford and a first-place finish, albeit without a medal, at Poplar Regatta. With both Hampton Heads cancelled and limited race appearances this season, their current form has been challenging to assess. At the U19 GB November trials, they sent five athletes, but by February, that number had dropped to three. The departure of two key rowers to the senior first eight has forced them to rely on squad depth, which may explain their unexpected loss to a weakened Paul’s second eight at Hammersmith Head, a possible sign of a drop-off from last year. That said, a solid training block in recent weeks may have helped them find new speed, and after a promising silver at Kingston Head, they’ll be eager to prove it on race day.
Abingdon School Boat Club
After a limited head racing season last year, Abingdon made a strong statement at the National Schools’ Regatta, climbing from sixth in the time trial to secure third place in the A-final. This season, they’ve gotten off to a good start. They initially placed fourth on time at Quintin Head but were later bumped up to second after penalties reshuffled the standings. At Dorney Lake, they seem to have defeated Radley in a fixture of sorts, adding to their racing experience. However, they opted to skip Hammersmith Head, another Tideway race, potentially missing a valuable opportunity to gain experience on the course ahead of Tuesday. That said, they’ve shown clear speed, having qualified for the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta in the eight, demonstrating their strength over shorter distances. The question is whether they can translate that speed into endurance over the gruelling 6.8km course.
Radley College Boat Club
The Red and White Army are usually a force to be reckoned with at any age group, but this season, Radley have struggled to match the top level of speed seen by some crews, a trend that was already apparent last year. As J15s, they finished sixth at the National Schools’ Regatta, three places lower than their Schools’ Head replacement result just months earlier. However, they turned things around with a bronze medal at Marlow Regatta, showcasing a late surge in speed. Radley traditionally doesn’t peak for the Schools’ Head, instead focusing on summer racing. Last year’s Junior 16 eight followed this pattern, placing fifth at Schools’ Head before storming to a dominant win at the National Schools’ Regatta. So far this season, they’ve secured a fourth-place finish at Hammersmith Head, but with the cancellation of Reading University Head, they lack some racing experience. However, this time away from competition may have allowed them to find an extra gear ahead of Tuesday. With elite athletes like B. Holloway on board, anything is possible.
Eton College Boat Club
Are they on the rise? Eton’s Junior 16 squad ranking is difficult to gauge due to their notable absences from many key races (in fairly typical Etonian fashion). However, their participation in fixtures against crews competing extensively this season provides some insight into their standing. At the annual Latymer, Shrewsbury, and Eton “scrap” at Dorney Lake, Eton emerged victorious in the Junior 16 eights, setting a solid benchmark for the season. More recently, word on the street suggests they defeated Radley in a 1v1, hinting at a late surge in speed just in time for Tuesday’s showdown. This crew has little to lose. Last year, they finished fourth in the B-final at the National Schools’ Regatta, trailing Latymer, but they seem determined to make up for it with a much stronger showing this season. Eton is well-positioned for next week, but have they found enough speed to claim the top prize?
Prediction
This age group is clearly stacked with talent, and racing this year promises to be tight and fierce. The clear frontrunners are St. Paul’s. They’ve consistently outpaced their competitors since last year, boasting unparalleled depth. Their A boat is essentially a top-tier Junior 18 eight, while their B boat would rank among the strongest Junior 16 A crews. Given their dominance, I’m predicting St. Paul’s will take gold. Second place also seems relatively secure. King’s College has made significant strides, steadily closing the gap on SPS, and looks well-positioned to claim silver. However, Abingdon could pose a challenge for that spot. While King’s remains the favourite for second, I’m predicting Abingdon to take the bronze and round out the podium.
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