This event features 19 scullers, with a good few athletes who would usually specialise in sweeping rather than sculling using the early season event to provide some variety to their race calendar, and add to their skillset. There are scullers within the event who have stood out in their J16 career with a couple being invited to the J16 Sculling camp, meaning there should be some interesting results to watch out for over the 4250m course. Here are a few potential names to look out for:
St. Paul’s – Langstone Bolt
Alex looks to have the makings of an exceptional athlete, having rowed in the St. Paul’s 1st VIII for Henley as a J16. He was also invited to the GB J16 Sculling camp off the back of a strong performance at the February assessment. He has displayed his ability and maturity to move both sweep and smaller sculling boats. His repertoire is further strengthened through his selection to represent at GB Vs France in the 4+. One would expect him to be one of the strongest contenders to take the win this weekend.
Henley RC – Turnell
Another exciting sculler, Turnell was also selected to go on the J16 Sculling camp. Solely a sculler by trade, he will make it a hard task for the those with less experience with two blades to better him in the 1x. The Henley based sculler will be one of the favourites to lay down a swift time down the river.
St. Paul’s – Tarczy
Calvin has recently moved downstream on the Thames after several successful years at the Tideway Sculler’s School, now rowing at St. Paul’s. During his time at TSS he was in the premier 4+ for his age group, which won gold and silver at J15 and J16 level respectively at the National School’s regatta. Adding to this impressive record, a gold in J16 4+ at the School’s Head 2016 looks to cement his ability to shift a boat over both the short and longer courses. TSS is a club with plenty of fantastic scullers to put their name to over the years, most notably of course that of Adam Campbell. Potentially Calvin can make some big puddles this weekend, and chuck down a very competitive time.
St. Paul’s – Von Malaise
An athlete of large stature, it will be interesting to see whether he can successfully utilise his physique to his advantage in the 1x. Leo was selected alongside Langstone Bolt and Douwe De Graaf (Douwe is also racing this weekend and should put in a good shift) to represent GB in the J16 Anglo-French match, and was of course a key piece within the J16 Ch8+ unit which grabbed a silver medal last May at National School’s. The St. Paul’s contingent will no doubt have been pushing each other hard during training together, and one should not discount Leo from putting himself right in the mixer during the event.
Reading RC – Pizura
Pizura is an athlete who has always been in and around the finals of key national events during the racing calendar, his experience and solid record indicate he’ll pose a threat to the rest of the field at Wallingford LDS.
HWG – Goodier
Goodier played a role in the HWG J16 4x which slotted in 2nd in the B Final at Dorney at NSR at the end of last season. His sculling ability shouldn’t be questioned, yet it remains to be seen whether he can quite compete with the firepower coming from some of the larger athletes in the event at LDS.
Predictions
I believe it will be Langstone Bolt for the win followed by Turnell, then the battle for third will be between Tarczy and Pizura
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