As one of the last events of this calendar year, athletes from up and down the country will be looking to show off their recent training gains before tucking in to some well-deserved mince pies. The Tideway’s unpredictable conditions never fail to disappoint and always provide some quality racing, some better to be observed from the sidelines. Steering and alertness will be the key to taking the top few spaces in this year’s women’s J18 category, with so many singles out on the water it will be important to maintain as much focus as possible, both on the start line and during the race.
Tideway Scullers
Tideway Scullers have a strong set of scullers entered into this year’s WJ18 category. Isobel lack represented Great Britain last year at the Munich Regatta in the double and quad as well as also competing at Coupe de le Jeunesse last summer in the coxless quad alongside Evelyna Davies who raced in the eight. A quad containing both Davies and Lack won the J18 coxless quad category at Henley Women’s Regatta before being knocked out in the heats of the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. These girls will be racing on their home water so no doubt will have the upper hand over athletes travelling from non-tideway based clubs.
Godolphin and Latymer
Alexandra Riddell-Webster and Aurelia Elliott of Godolphin and Latymer has proved themselves to be very strong scullers. With Riddell-Webster finishing 11th at the recent early identification and a junior worlds vest to her name, she will be towards the front of the field in terms of sculling ability. However, the Tideway can be a very challenging course and there will most likely be very different conditions to those raced in Boston last month. Steering ability will be a huge factor this weekend and athlete’s awareness of where the fastest water is will be a necessity.
Hinksey
Hinksey have stepped on dramatically as a club this year, after having their first Fawley crew ever to qualify for Henley Royal regatta in July, the club have gone from strength to strength. Harriet Wilson placed second at Wallingford Long Distance sculls in October in the Women’s J18 single category and has since placed 33rd at the recent GB Early Identification trials. I have no doubt we will be seeing her name towards the top of the finishing times as she has shown her strength as a single sculler on numerous occasions.
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