As often comes with this time of year, taking time to pause and reflect on the season we have experienced so far can often lead us to be better informed as to what we can expect going forward. With numerous sculling events occurring already this season (alongside a handful of sweep), we have seen a plethora of results from many clubs looking to put their names in the draw for the top spot heading into the rest of the year. We have seen both old and new names begin to establish themselves on the scene, with the currently untouchable ranks of Windsor Boys’ School continuing to deliver dominant performances across the board. It also appears the resurgence of a classic School Boy rivalry is set for the rest of this season with Radley College and St Paul’s remaining as ones to watch across the age categories.
Junior 18
The autumn season has seen a number of exciting races in the J18 men’s sweep, with athletes from across the top programmes looking to lay down a marker before the start of eights racing in earnest in the new year.
Overall, Radley and St Paul’s have put down the strongest performances, with St Paul’s particularly showing their strength in smaller boats on home water. Whilst Radley posted the fastest Junior 8+ time at the curtailed Wallingford head. Hot on their heels are St Edward’s and Eton, both looking to draw on their previous success in summer eights racing, and both posting strong times at Wallingford. KCS, Westminster, Shiplake, and others are still very much in the mix and will be looking to develop their depth of squad over the winter training block.
In the new year, it will be exciting to see the return of the Tideway head races for the second post-covid year, with St Paul’s, Radley, and Eton likely to be the top performers at Quintin and Hammersmith Head’s. But with the perils of steering on the Tideway and the potential for rapid improvements amongst Junior rowers, the School’s Head, the first of ‘the triple’, is still very much to play for.
By ThinSculler
Junior 16
So far this 2022/23 season, we have seen many nail-biting races across the J16 category in both sweep and sculling. There have been crews making a name for themselves as ones to watch so far so it will be interesting to see what happens as we go into the new year.
So far on the sculling side, we have seen a repeat of last season with the domination from The Windsor Boys’ School BC. They have so far taken medals at numerous competitions including Bedford Autumn Small Boats Head, Hampton Small Boats Head and even across the pond at the Head of the Charles in Boston. As the season progresses into 2023, Windsor Boys’ School is clearly hoping to recreate and retain their success at the upcoming events.
Moving the focus onto the sweep side, we have seen much of the success being overwhelmingly claimed by Radley College BC. Much like Windsor Boys, they will also be looking to repeat what were some stellar performances last season, especially in the move towards regatta season after securing the win at the British Rowing Junior Championships last year.
by rowrowrowyourboat
Junior 15
As always, we’ve seen the recurring strength from the Windsor Boys’ School, who won Bedford Autumn Small Boats Head back in October. However more recently at Hampton Small Boats Head, they were pipped to the post by the quads from Hampton School and Marlow Rowing Club. We can expect this rivalry to develop throughout the new year, likely culminating next at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head in March.
In the single, Molesey RC is proving to be strong this head season, with a win at Hampton Small Boats Head. This, alongside silver in the coxless quad at Teddington Head, is an excellent set of results that they are sure to want to continue into the new year and will be putting them alongside the ranks of the aforementioned clubs.
Heading into the new year, for J15 rowers we are looking forward to watching these battles take place at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head before reaching regatta season which, if how the season so far has gone will have much in store and to unfold.
by Seas the day
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