5 Scullers from St George’s College, Walbrook RC, Burway RC, Tideway Scullers and Walton RC are entered in the WJ18 1x category in what will likely be their first competition following the extended break from racing. They will race 3,300m upstream, from Little Weir to Elmbridge Canoe Club, in what should an exciting race to start the 2020/21 season. With few results from the last season to draw on, these seem to be the ones to watch:
Tideway Scullers
Zoë Scheske enters this event as perhaps the most experienced sculler, having represented Great Britain in the single at the GB vs France match in Nottingham in 2019 as well as in the W2x at the Coupe de la Jeunesse. This demonstrates her previous form in sculling boats, which will be particularly useful in the single following such a long time off the water.
Walton Rowing Club
The sculler from Walton, Typhaine Beard, will be looking to follow up impressive form at Weybridge Silver Sculls in previous years, having won both the WJ17 1x and WJ17 2x events in 2019. Saturday’s course should therefore be somewhat familiar for Beard, who has also showcased her sculling ability by placing 2nd in the WJ18 2x Senior at Pairs Head in 2019. However, this year’s race looks likely to be tighter contest, considering her winning margin was 40 seconds in the WJ17 race of 2019.
Burway Rowing Club
Saturday’s race provides Eleanor Needham, the sculler from Burway Rowing Club, with the opportunity to go one better than last year having come 2nd in the WJ17 1x at Weybridge Silver Sculls. Having had little extra racing experience since last year, it will be interesting to see how far she’s progressed as she looks to close last year’s gap of 40 seconds to Beard, the sculler from Walton Rowing Club.
Predictions
Overall, it looks likely the scullers from Tideway, Walton RC and Burway RC will challenge for the top spot, with perhaps Scheske from Tideway Scullers edging out the others based on previous racing experience. However, it will be interesting to see the performances of all 5 girls as they begin their last season as juniors and look to showcase the efforts of their training over the lockdown period.
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