The 2023/2024 head season is now underway, and tensions will be rising across southern clubs as Wallingford Long Distance Sculls approaches. With regatta season over, and the bitterly cold winter months looming ever closer, it will be great to watch these younger juniors indicate their intentions for the upcoming season. With four entries in the WJ16 doubles, and over 500 entries in total, it is bound to be a spectacular day of racing across the 4000m course.
Guildford Rowing Club
Guildford will be hoping for a stronger season this year: both the junior and senior squads are expanding, and their results are continuously improving. The junior squad is now 150-strong, and they will be wanting to use these numbers to build a solid set of results across the year. Their WJ15 quad placed 52nd at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head. Following this into regatta season, they entered a WJ15 double into the Junior Sculling Regatta, who went on to place 3rd in the B final. This promising result will give them confidence looking forward into the new season. Let’s hope their 60 mile journey will be worthwhile!
Pangbourne College Boat Club
Pangbourne will also be aiming to build upon the foundations they built last season. They finished just behind Guildford at the 2023 Oarsport Junior Sculling Regatta, placing 66th in an incredibly strong field. Pangbourne WJ15s switched disciplines for the 2023 regatta season, transferring to sweep rowing to enter 2 crews into National Schools’ Regatta, one placing 25th in the time trial, and the other finishing 5th in the B final. Reverting to sculling to start the new year, it will be exciting to see how they compare to Guildford.
The American School in London
With 2 entries in the WJ16 doubles, The American School in London will be battling each other, as well as tough opposition. They finished 30th at Hampton head in the WJ15 quad, and were unfortunately outclassed at the Junior Sculling Regatta, where they placed 70th. They put together 2 quads for National Schools’ Regatta, with their 1st 4x+ finishing in 39th place, and their second 4x+ reaching the C final. These results will have them eager to build upon last season.
I’m predicting a tight race with Guildford coming out on top, but we’re sure to be in for a close set of times.
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