The Men’s Under 21 Eight at this year’s Christmas-themed Reindeer Regatta looks to be a match-up of some of the top schoolboy crews in Sydney. The top eights from half of the AAGPS schools will compete in this division, promising exciting racing this weekend.
The King’s School
The King’s School has three eights entered, showcasing the depth and strength of their program. Their top eight has significant individual talent, with Lachie Rogers representing the NSW Junior Pathways team eight earlier this year. Additionally, they have five returners from last year’s crew, which placed fifth at the Australian Rowing Championships. With fourth place at the Newington College Regatta and the Scots College Regatta a few weeks ago, both with considerable margins over Newington, this crew will undoubtedly be competing for one of the top places.
Newington
Newington also has individual talent and squad depth to draw on. Nicholas Trethewey was a member of the NSW Junior Pathways team this year, illustrating the promise in this group of athletes. However, there are no returners from last year’s crew, who came sixth at the Australian Rowing Championships, meaning that this combination is inexperienced and unproven. As the season progresses, we may find a rapid Newington eight; however, their inexperience together may prove devastating against the more experienced Kings eight this weekend, who have already beaten them this season by higher margins than last year.
Scots College
The Scots College may struggle to keep up with Kings and Newington, having already fallen considerably behind them at the two opening AAGPS regattas of the season. Last year’s results do not point to any other probable outcomes, with Scots finishing in the C Final of the Australian Rowing Championships, whereas Newington and Kings finished in the A-final. They do have some individual talent in Max Berkelouw, who was also a member of the NSW Junior Pathways team, but overall, they will struggle against their opposition this weekend.
St Joseph’s
St Joseph’s would typically be a powerful contender for this event, having come third at the Newington College Regatta and second at the Scots College Regatta in the Schoolboy Eight. However, with two eights entered, it seems that they have chosen to enter their top athletes in small boats; it would be expected that they will not perform as highly in this event. That being said, their focus on individual athlete development this early in the season may mean that we see greater results from them come the new year.
Prediction
Due to the lack of a St Joseph’s top eight, The King’s School seems poised to take the win at this year’s Reindeer Regatta. Newington will follow closely behind to take second place, and Scots will go for the bronze medal. The St Joseph’s second eight will be challenging Scots for this place on the podium, and the numerous lower crews from all four schools will be looking to upend this order and prove themselves against their peers.
