Second Eights don’t always get their time to shine. Seen as lower than School 1st Eights, and forever 2nd fiddle to the top eight, some very quick crews can go unnoticed. Unlike 1st and Champ Eights, however, there’s the smaller element of unpredictability. A programme with consistent depth can churn out Second Eights that challenge many Champ Eights (as seen at SHORR). Nevertheless, history doesn’t matter when all crews are lined up and ready to rumble. These crews aren’t similar speeds, but a knife fight can be expected in the first 1000.
St. Paul’s School
With a first eight blindingly far ahead of their competitors, you’d hope some of this talent has trickled down into this crew. The ingredients are there: 7 of last year’s victorious First Eight have returned. Last year’s J16s had a great season but fell short at NSR and later the Henley Qualifiers. Max Deering was, unfortunately, unable to keep his seat from last year and has ended up in the 2nd Eight. He, however, had a good performance at the GB Pairs Regatta, suggesting this crew contains rowers of decent calibre. In short, this is a crew most schools wish they could field as their top crew. They’ve shied away from the bigger races, but a small invitational regatta comes to mind. Following an 8th overall placing at SHORR, as well as 2nd in their category, and an Easter training camp, these boys should be ready to fly. The small regatta in question was BASHER, an Eton hosted regatta where they finished 2nd, again behind Eton’s 2nd Eight. I think they’ve got potential to take the top spot – losing by a length and a half, a month before NSR can be clawed back. If they don’t then Eton will run away with the trophy.
Eton College
Most championship crews don’t lose to 2nd eights. Within squads, this is law. However, I’d like to place an emphasis on most. This 2nd Eight is one of Eton’s fastest in recent memory. We saw an excellent time at SHORR, record-breaking and 4th overall, that left the majority of Champ Eights in the dust. To borrow a term from our American friends, they were ‘JVeed’. Following a training camp over Easter, these boys turned up at BASHER to maintain last year’s overall victory. At Wallingford, they showed plenty of ambition – making the final of Challenge Eights but finishing last and being pipped by Abingdon in the final of School A Eights. It’s worth noting Abingdon (their first eight) played a dangerous game – had Eton not dead-heated with Westminster, an extra spot in the final wouldn’t have opened. In this final, plenty of top eights buckled under the pressure of this crew. Radley first eight may have been slower without McChesney but losing to Bedford with him doesn’t do them any favours. A crew of this standard could take some Championship or First Eight scalps but staying in their category is the safest option. This crew’s predecessors finished 6 seconds ahead of Shrewsbury, but I imagine a gap of that magnitude won’t repeat itself. Despite that, I would back this crew to hold onto the trophy.
Hampton
Hampton are a prime of example of half-decent schools that sometimes slip down the rankings from year to year. In their case, it hasn’t been their year for some time now. I hope they’re not believers in the Gambler’s Fallacy, because hoping things will eventually get better won’t pull them back to previous heights. Regardless, I think the recent lull hasn’t proved fatal to their 2nd Eights. They regularly medal in this category, a parallel not found in their top crew. I’ve only seen one performance from this crew, suggesting we’ve a lot to expect this weekend. Winners of Heat B, debatably the easier heat, this crew fended off Radley from start to finish while chasing Shrewsbury. The times tell me Shrewsbury didn’t have the most pressured of races – a second lead on the field at 500m which was maintained till the end. With the top two spots appearing inaccessible, one medal position is left open. In most races there’s a lot of fixation on the battle for 1st and 2nd, and those fighting for the last podium spot are drowned out by the winners’ cheers. I think there’s an equal (or greater) amount of intent and desperation seen in the race for bronze. Hampton should realise they need to race out of their skins to climb back up from Wallingford. A small collision at SHORR might have caused their loss to Shrewsbury, but they’ve had a chance to race side by side with no obstacles. This weekend could be their last opportunity to get one back.
Shrewsbury School
As far as 2nd Eights go, Shrewsbury have it in them to medal. This is based off their winning performance at Wallingford. Between SHORR and Wallingford, there will have been the usual training camps to squeeze out more speed. Using Wallingford as a reference point, Shrewsbury could be ranked as the 3rd fastest crew entered. They’ll be aiming to close the expansive gap seen at SHORR: the double-digit difference in overall positions between them and Eton is certainly one to forget. Bedford Regatta looked promising – the Open 8 final was between them and the first eight. Over 1200m, a loss of a quarter length clear water is expected from their top crew. Even before this, they beat Bedford School. Assuming Bedford or Radley didn’t have a disaster, it would put Shrewsbury crew around a similar pace to Radley. It will be a stretch for Shrewsbury to beat the likes of Eton, who beat a ‘boosted’ Shrewsbury crew in a heat of Challenge Eights. Most schools had to look to lower crews to replace their missing GB athletes. If Vassilis Ragoussis wasn’t a good enough stroke man for the first eight (but fine for the 2017 Boat Race) the Salopians have their work cut out trying to match Eton. The battle for medals will be fought with nothing to lose.
It’s not impossible to think the crews mentioned here are the only ones worth watching. I’ll reiterate, a fast crew under substantial pressure may break there and then. The nature of schoolboy rowing isn’t to possess the mental fortitude of elite athletes. In other words, my prediction could be completely shaken up. Absolutely anything can happen on the day, so it’s up to the athletes to step up when needed. Those from Shiplake, Radley, and even Abingdon may feel forgotten. SHORR did offer a disparity in speed, but an accepting time-trial will keep them at Dorney a little while longer. If it’s any reassurance, you’ll be remembered until the first finish buzzer has sounded.
I don’t do these often, but my prediction is as follows:
1st Eton 2nd St. Paul’s 3rd Shrewsbury
Let’s see if they’re overturned.
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