This Saturday sees racing return to the river Wansbeck- hosted by a club who epitomise the iconic and gutsy spirit of northern rowing; Cambois RC. This course will be shorter than any other we have faced so far in the sculling series, at an enjoyable 3500m. Momentum has been lost in the series since Tyne LDS, with Tees cancelled and as always, low entries at Berwick. This creates opportunity for some surprise victories and ultimately makes the series much tighter (within both; the individual categories and the overall VL). Durham School hauled a huge amount of points for the VL last week at Berwick, but with them taking two weeks holiday, they have left the door open for Chester-Le-Street to take a hold on the title, that perhaps they themselves would have expected to win by a large margin. Although the two clubs I previously mentioned are most likely to be front runners in the VL, Tyne RC have been very consistent in their entries and should they maintain this, over the coming weeks, then they will invariably finish very well. Wansbeck will take us over the half way point in the series, inevitably providing some more great sculling to watch. Here’s what, I think, are likely results for this weekend:
WJ18/17 4x-
The only WJ18 crew entered here are a Hexham/Queen Elizabeth High School composit, which we are yet to see race, which could work in their favour, as they will work to lead the WJ17 entries. The Chester-Le-Street entry appears unchanged from the girls who raced St Leonard’s School at Tyne and lost by 45 seconds. The St Leonard’s crew has one change since this victory but will aim to repeat their last result against CLS -and perhaps take a punt to be fastest junior women’s boat.
WJ16 4x-
Two George Watson’s College crews are entered here, who will be looking to make their trip to England worthwhile. Their ‘Douglas’ boat won the Scottish Schools Sculling Head earlier on in October, which suggests that they are big contenders for the win. The GWC ‘Joyce’ boat (entered for Wansbeck) seems to be changed from the crew who lost to the ‘Douglas’ GWC boat (by 1 minute and 16 seconds) -which could mean they are much closer together this time around. In the mix are also the QEHS girls but looking on recent performance, they may struggle to match GWC.
WJ18/17 2x
The Cambois double raced well on the Tyne, where they secured an impressive win in this category- and I wouldn’t be surprised if they produced the same result, on home water, this weekend. The girls from George Watson’s won’t be easily beaten though and their extra year of experience could help them to run out victorious.
WJ16 2x
It was Chester-Le-Street who won this category (in the SBH) at Tyne, which puts both the CLS entries in a good position for Wansbeck, who will be closely contended by Cambois RC who came 2nd in both; the LDS and SBH at Tyne. The Talkin Tarn double were 2 minutes off winning pace on the Tyne, meaning they have a lot of ground to make up this Saturday, alongside Durham ARC, who have their first race in this category.
WJ18/17 1x
With the region’s top scullers spending the weekend in Nottingham at the GB potential camp, an opportunity has arisen for some other girls to claim a win. Having never faced each other before, these categories should be close. Although this Talkin Tarn sculler raced at Tyne (losing to Durham School), it is the Chester-Le-Street entry who has the most experience in this boat- which she will be using to her advantage.
WJ16 1x
This could be another tactical entry from Chester-Le-Street, as they put out a fleet of four singles in this category- which automatically secures them a lot of points for the VL. Without doubt, their Warren boat will take the win, as she is one of the fastest J16s in Great Britain- proving so on numerous occasions; at JIRR, GB trials and British Championships.
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