Pre-dating even the likes of Henley Royal Regatta, the Wingfield Sculls is one of the most historic rowing events in the racing UK calendar. The highly selective nature of the event draws in some of the country’s most elite single scullers, and the unpredictable challenges of the Tideway can present some fantastically exciting racing. As they have for the last 193 years, these five men will line up under Chiswick Bridge on Thursday to compete for the contested silver sculls.
James Stevenson – Thames Rowing Club
Formerly of Newcastle University BC, James Stevenson made the move to Thames RC and now takes on this race on his home water. Stroking the winning Wyfold crew in 2022, Stevenson has made the switch back to sculling, having previously worn the GB vest at the 2018 U23 World Championships in the LM4x. In the bow seat of the Thames ’B’ crew in the Prince of Wales at HRR this year, Stevenson narrowly missed out on the heats as the fastest non-qualifying crew, so he’ll no doubt be hungry for a solo win on his training stretch.
Matt Brigham – University of Leeds BC
Leeds University graduate and junior doctor Matt Brigham is making his debut in the Wingfields this year, a crucial challenge for him on his quest to ‘break on to GBRT’. Brigham was the only one of these five scullers to qualify in the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta this year, eventually losing out by just a foot to Cam Buchan’s incredible comeback in the heats. Having previously raced at the European Universities Rowing Championships (EUSA), Home International Regatta (HIR), and November trials, this’ll be another tick box on the list for Matt, and I hope to see a gutsy race from him on Thursday.
Chris Revell – Wallingford Rowing Club
Cambridge University alumni Chris Revell of Wallingford Rowing Club is the only sculler in this group to have raced the Wingfields before, taking on the challenge back in 2019 for London Rowing Club. Now more familiar with a different stretch of the Thames, Revell frequently posts impressive local head race wins, however at this point in the season is fresh off the back of a win in the Mixed 2x at Pairs Head with former OUWBC rower, Mariann Novak. Having finished joint third with Ashley Cowley of Notts County RA in the 2019 race, Revell will certainly be looking to improve on this to finish top three in his second attempt at the Wingfields, four years later.
Ben Parsonage – Clydesdale ARC
A PhD student at Strathclyde University, Ben Parsonage will be making the long journey down to London with a very successful last season behind him. With medals at BUCS Regatta, Scottish Championships, and EUSA, as well as podium finishes at GBRT final trials, he will certainly be looking for the Wingfields to add to the silverware collection. Ben usually competes in the Lightweight 1x category, so it’ll be interesting to see how he fares alongside the rest of the pack in Tideway conditions, but with an eighth-place championship single finish at Scullers Head just four weeks ago, he will certainly be one to watch.
Josh Lyon – Reading University BC
Josh Lyon of Reading University BC has already familiarised himself with Tideway heads this season, coming away with the win in the U23 single at Sculler’s Head, and a second-placed finish in the championship double at Pairs Head just a couple of weeks later. Josh also came away with a full set of medals from BUCS Regatta, in Championship single, double and quad so he will no doubt be looking to continue Reading’s tight grip on university sculling and add the silver Wingfield Sculls to his collection.
Predictions
This is obviously a highly competitive field, with all to play for on the day, especially seeing as the Wingfields often throws up surprises and a level of drama given the nature of side-by-side racing on the Tideway. Still, I expect that Lyon of Reading University BC and Parsonage of Clydesdale ARC will be looking for quick starts in order to begin moving away from the pack. Matt Brigham will also be expected to make a move, but I imagine that Lyon will continue his reign and ultimately come out on top to take the win on Thursday.
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