As ever, the reward for a long, arduous and, at times, frustrating season for junior oarsmen across the British Isles has arrived: Regatta Season. Gone are the endurance races of the colder days, replaced by the intense brutality of 2,000 metre side by side racing; for many leading up to the likes of Henley Women’s and Henley Royal Regatta – but before the caps and blazers are released into the wild, our juniors must prove themselves on the national stage, beginning this weekend with Wallingford Regatta.
The scullers below have often come through from the most junior ranks in their respective clubs, and now earn the honour of racing at championship level at regattas throughout the season; so from these elite rowers, who will wow the crowds at Dorney this weekend in the J18 singles?
Taylor – Rob Roy
Racing up a year, our first candidate for gold this weekend is Taylor of Rob Roy Boat Club; a lesser known club training in the light blue heartland. This season Brett has got out early, stealing the win at the Junior Sculling Regatta last weekend, setting a new course record in the process. This is no fluke, however, Taylor won two categories at Hampton Small Boats Head last season in both the J17 single, and a composite J17 double with Forward of Nottingham and City, this seasoned sculler has also proved himself on home water during the Head Season; winning all three legs of the Cambridge Winter Head in both the J18 singles, and the championship singles category – making him the fastest sculler in Cambridge.
Taylor is our only sculler with international experience, racing at the Junior Worlds last year as the Sculler for Chinese Taipei, where he found his way to the E final to finish 29th overall. He also dominated at home last year with a comfortable win in the British Rowing Junior Championships in a strong field. Taylor was for a time under the Watchful eye of ex-international Charles Cousins at Robs – the same sculler who won the at the ‘Big Three’ in the run-up to Henley last year, and it seems his experience has trickled down into the junior ranks. After dominating almost every race he has entered, Taylor looks set to do the same this year at Wallingford, but will any of our other scullers disrupt his winning streak before its begun?
Huntley – Royal Grammar School High Wycombe
Another sculler who has darted around the country over the last few years is Huntley of Royal Grammar School High Wycombe. He ended the regatta season last year in a weak position, only managing to place 6th in the C Final at National Schools’ Regatta, racing up a year.
This year, however, he has bought himself to the attention of his competitors by taking a clean win at Reading Small Boats Head, beating some of the more established names on the circuit. Huntley made no appearance at Hampton making it hard to compare him to the rest of the field, however here we clearly have a strong, devoted sculler – but whether he can rival the top players in his cohort is yet to be seen.
Hui-Le Marer & Sutherland – Fulham Reach Boat Club
Hui-Le Marer is another sculler that has charged head-on into Regatta season, racing at the Scullery last weekend, managing to finish 5th in the B final, proving himself on the Dorney course well before Wallingford rolls around. Fulham Reach Boat Club also have another single racing here, and Sutherland has no doubt benefited from the world-class coaching taking place at Fulham Reach, so will be racing to be competitive this weekend.
To keep things interesting…
Not mentioned above are the scullers racing for Reading Blue Coat School, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Wallingford. It is in the nature of the sport that we compete in that mystery boats will appear next to you on the start line, so it is no surprise to see some unfamiliar names here that will be looking to demonstrate the rewards they have reaped from a long winters training.
Good luck all!
OneScull
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