These previews were written prior to the cancellation of Wallingford Long Distance Sculls 2024.
Although the days are getting shorter, the evenings darker and the temperatures lower, there’s still plenty to get excited about, because the new season is only just beginning. Many competitors and newly-formed crews will be racing for the first time at the weekend, and this will be the first opportunity for us to gauge who might be rising stars in the sport for 2024/25. With this being a J18 category, a number of last year’s standout athletes have now progressed to University/club rowing, making way for the next generation of scullers to take their places. The J18 double sculls is a competitive category at every event, and is one of the events at Wallingford which takes place over the full 4,000m course, as opposed to the shortened 2,500m. There are 16 entries this year, which should allow for some strong performances among fierce competition.
Bewl Bridge Rowing Club
Bewl Bridge Rowing Club have entered 3 doubles; Ribbens, Whitehead, and Watkins, who will take on the Wallingford course this weekend. This is the club’s first entry to the event since 2017. While Bewl are used to training on a reservoir, I don’t envisage them having much trouble on the Thames, particularly Ribbens, who took home the bronze in the J16 2x from the National Schools’ Regatta in May, and is surely looking to continue his successful streak into his first season racing as J18.
Reading Rowing Club
It would be fair to expect great things from Reading Rowing Club’s entry into this event, as it was a Reading crew who were awarded the Fox Tankard for Championship Double Sculls at the National Schools’ Regatta this year. Although the crew has changed since then, the standard of rowing will undoubtedly remain high, and, as part of a club who train on the Thames, the boat steered by Carter should have an edge above competitors who will be racing on unfamiliar waters on Saturday.
Pangbourne College Boat Club
If Reading’s proximity to the Wallingford course is going to work in their favour, Pangbourne College Boat Club, whose boathouse sits between the two, will also enjoy the advantage of racing on waters on which they are more than comfortable. They will be boating two doubles: Bishop and Manley, who was achieved a silver medal at the National Schools’ Regatta in the Championship Coxed Fours earlier this year. Pangbourne are returning to an event which they won last year, and will undoubtedly want to retain the title.
Prediction
I think the winds of fate will blow in Ribbens from Bewl Bridge’s favour this weekend, but Reading and either crew from Pangbourne could have a fighting chance. Although the latter two are on their home river, a National Schools’ Regata medallist in this event will surely have an edge. Entries from Wallingford Rowing Club or RGS High Wycombe could also be vying for a podium finish.
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