With the rowing season being curtailed somewhat by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Weybridge Silver Sculls will provide a welcome return to the water for crews eager to improve their standing for the season ahead. Past winners of the events here include giants of the British rowing scene such as Olympic legend Sir Steve Redgrave and renowned former OUBC coach the late Daniel Topolski. Maybe a new legend will be christened on the waves of the Thames, this coming weekend.
Division One
Local club Weybridge RC are guaranteed a win in this category, given that all four rowers represent them. James Manzi will undoubtedly look to build on the performance that saw him get silver in the 4×2 mixed relay at the British Virtual Rowing Championships in June. However, he is likely to face stiff competition from the gold medal winners in the same event, Nicholas Didaskalou and Cullen Ross, also competing in the same category. A possible dark horse could pip all three to the title, in the form of Zac Smilie-McCormack who raced with Ross and Didaskalou in a coxless four last season, an experience which may help him to gauge his fellow rower’s weaknesses.
Division 1 Prediction: This a tough one to call, but I’d say it’s a tossup between Cullen Ross and Nicholas Didaskalou with James Manzi running a close second.
Division Two
Radnor House School RC , St Georges College BC and Walbrook RC all contest this division. Walbrook’s best hope must surely be pinned on Thomas Finnegan and Freddie Middleton, members of their silver medal-winning coxless four at the National Schools’ Regatta, last year. Seb Croft and Arthur Clinton, who were members of the St George’s College J14 Eight which failed to qualify for the finals at the same regatta will undoubtedly look to kick off their season with a bang. Also worthy of note are Harrison Peck and Connor Woods, who finished third in J15.2x for St George’s College BC last year and will now race each other. Radnor House School RC Alexander Skaane Oliver Newbury and Thomas McAndrew will look to improve on their showing at National Schools, where they were pipped to the bronze medal by just under a second. Incidentally, this was the same race in which Thomas Finnegan and Freddie Middleton placed second, so Radnor House BC will really have to dig in, in order to overcome the pre-race favourites Walbrook RC.
Division 2 Prediction: Based on performing at a national level, I would have to say either Thomas Finnegan or Freddie Middleton taking the win for Walbrook RC, with Radnor House BC’s Alexander Skaane and Thomas McAndrew in the hunt for the bronze.
Division Three
Burway RC, Walbrook and Walton RC all have entries here. Burway RC sole entry, Oliver Grayer, has clearly been pushing himself hard during the lockdown, as seen by his performance in Burways Max Challenge, in which he had the fourth-longest plank of all juniors [at 2:02]and the same for burpees [with 28]. Walton RC’s hopes in this division will be high, [after the victory of Richard Hawes in last years race by 11 seconds] and pinned firmly upon the shoulders of Toby Keary. Finally, Walbrook RC’s two entrants Edward Andrews and Henry Bucknall, the former of whom used to enjoy coxing a Women’s Masters Boat at just 13.
Prediction for Division 3: A close one again, but I’d say Oliver Grayer and Toby Keary will be in a battle for the win, but at the moment it’s too close to call.
Division Four
There may be a sparsity of competitors in this division [there being only two] but what quality those two competitors are. First up, representing the sculling powerhouse that is Tideway Scullers School is Samuel Arcichowski, who will want to avenge the disappointing 13th place he achieved last year in J15.2x. However, if his sub 6:45 2k is anything to go by, he should put in a strong performance. His competitor from Walton RC is Julius Staadecker, who won this even as a J14.2x and will undoubtedly look to retain his title after missing out last year.
Division Four Prediction: The closet’s call of any boat, but I’d say that Samuel Arcichowski would just edge out to take the win.
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