The season is off to a rocky start once again, with the earliest Thames’ Head in the racing season being cancelled. This is especially harmful to the J15s who will have had very little racing experience, with a large majority of last year’s races being cancelled as well.
Wallingford is often a good marker at the start of the season, as it tends to show the strength of a good training plan that can get athletes back up to racing fitness quickly after having August off. For example, last year the Henley crew that won, went on to win the National School’s Regatta in eight later in the season. With that being said, the field is wide open and it is still very early in the season.
Marlow Rowing Club
Marlow are coming in as the favourite crew for this race, the history of their sculling dominance is not being let down by this crew. With crews entered in both the short and long course category, we are being given an early preview into the depth of Marlow’s new WJ15 squad. After coming fifth at British Junior Championships, the last big race of their J14 year – Marlow will be expecting to win big this weekend at Wallingford and establish a pace to beat for the rest of the season.
Wallingford Rowing Club
Wallingford has had a very strong junior programme in recent years, with their relatively young first eight having made it to the quarter final of Henley Women’s in 2024. Wallingford seems to have a large WJ15 squad, having entered both a crew into the short and long course, so they seem to have a good chance of placing well in at least on of these categories. They come off the back of their J14 season with a fifth place in the National Schools’ Regatta B-Final and a sixth place in the British Junior Championships D-Final, the latter of which will no doubt have been a bit of a disappointing result. Their B crew also came third in the C-final at the National Schools’ Regatta which shows somewhat of depth and strength in their squad, but will they be able to step up and challenge Marlow to the win?
Headington School Oxford Boat Club
Headington have entered multiple boats into this category, and after a fairly strong season last year, with a sixth place in the National Schools’ Regatta B-Final, these crews will be excited to prove themselves and compete against some of strongest up and coming Junior 15 crews. As a squad, Headington tend to get stronger and more technically proficient as the athletes get older. This was definitely shown at the Henley Royal Regatta this year when their top eight took home the Prince Phillip Challenge Trophy, so I would give them a good chance of coming in a top ranking at Wallingford this weekend.
Honourable Mentions
Sir William Perkins and Stratford are the other notable crews on the draw, the former bagged a fifth in the E-final at the British Junior Championships among a competitive field, and Stratford have had historical success in older age categories in sculling, showing they may prove to be competitive as a squad
Prediction
With a notable absence of the dominant Henley crew who proved themselves hard to beat last year, there is all to play for. I think that Marlow will take first place with Headington and Wallingford coming close behind, taking second and third respectively.
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