With 20 entries for the Senior Men’s category, there’s small but fierce competition for the glory of coming on top. With 15 of those entries not from the London stretch of the Thames, it leaves five without the day-to-day tideway practice. Leander’s J Keating was the highest-placing competitor from the senior men last year, coming in fourth, with Z Youell from Thames coming in close behind at fifth.
City of Oxford Rowing Club
City of Oxford’s Sam Clifford’s is making his second appearance, training on a very different stretch of the Thames, but coming from a strong second place in the club single from last year. One to watch out for as he battle’s N Palmer from Tideway Scullers School who won the club single last year. Will the past experience of the tideway help Clifford beat Palmer or will the training on the race course be what helps Palmer prevail again.
Leander Club
Leander have a rower in the senior men too, J Keating, which will be interesting to see how a Leander athlete does battling the tough tideway waters, but with a strong position last year it’s clear the experience and speed in sculling helps to give the edge. Cambridge City have two rowers too, G Douglas and E Gardiner, who join Monmouth’s A Bruton in making up the last of the entries who don’t train on the tideway. This is always an interesting watch as the knowledge and experience on the race waters is all that more important on the tideway, which is known for being unforgiving and harsh.
University of London
G Langstone Bolt is the only university sculler entered, representing the University of London, who are a strong rowing crowd in their own right. Being able to boat from your own club and race on your home stretch of water is an advantage for sure.
Predictions
Vesta, Putney, Curlew and London RC bring in our last entries. The field is small but tough, with lots of tideway experience. Clifford will beat Palmer, both placing in the top ten, but just miss out on the top five. Youell will put a strong show, but the tideway training isn’t enough for the win, coming in close behind Leander’s Keating. Curlew’s F Hemsted will take the third place, almost ten seconds behind Keating.
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