The peak of the season for most juniors north of the border has arrived. The Scottish Rowing Championships is hosted on Strathclyde Park, home of the European Rowing Championships in 2018, which provides a venue for the national championships that is more than fit for purpose. Just over 40 days ago, the Scottish Rowing Spring Regatta was the first of the two major regattas in the Scottish summer season, and the event was a great success for all who competed. I expect even more from the flagship staging. Entries look extremely strong this year, especially on the senior side, and with the combined format of open, lightweight, Junior 16 and Junior 18 all in the same race, let’s look at who the favourites are in the small boats this weekend.
Men’s and Junior Boy’s Single Sculls
Entered in the lightweight single, Ben Parsonage from Clydesdale ARC is one of the 35 senior scullers to compete at the event. Having finished second last year, Ben will almost certainly overturn that result this weekend. Having enjoyed a top-five finish at the Metropolitan Regatta over both days, Parsonage seems to be as strong as ever; I believe his fitness will show in the margin he makes this weekend. The man who beat Parsonage was Edinburgh University athlete Josh Matthews who doesn’t compete this year however four other scullers from Edinburgh’s Prince of Wales project will compete for the trophy in his place. These are Henley Royal Regatta winner and current GB U23 trialist, Freddy Foxwell, Irish Home International Regatta 2024 athlete, Tiarnan McKnight, Pairs Head winner and stroke seat of the Edinburgh quad, Rob Humphris, and BUCS lightweight bronze medallist, Ollie Plank. All feature in the draw and have a good chance of taking home a medal. As well as the Edinburgh scullers, lightweight medallist from last year’s event, Gregor Hall, is definitely not one to count out for a late charge in the final 500m of the race. Similarly, Neil Paul, the ex-Cambridge lightweight, is also likely to take a place in the A-final.
From the Junior section, Junior 16 Winner and A-finalist from last year, Ezra Ferguson, from George Watson’s Boat Club, competes in the junior category, hoping to beat some senior competitors this year again. Ezra’s crewmate, James Palmer, also races in the men’s single. However, in the age category below, will these two lock out the top spot in both junior and J16 single sculls?
Men’s and Junior Boy’s Pair
Edinburgh University Boat Club has three pairs entered into the championships, with one clear favourite. Josh Matthews and Murray Bone, both members of the top boat at Edinburgh for Henley Royal Regatta, take to the waters on Saturday to race the open pairs event. Having trained alongside this pair, I am fairly sure they are favourites for the win here. The second pair of Gabe Messner and Drew Mackinnon will likely finish in a top-five position in the time trial, but things could get messy without a training session together. Again, at these championships, Neil Paul enters into the pairs with Jan Swedlow, both from St Andrew BC. This pair competed for team Scotland at the most recent Home International Regatta; my bets will be on this pair to take home a respectable second place after the top Edinburgh pair. Glasgow University BC has three pairs entered, but again, one pair shows significant strength over the others. The composite of Alexander Beeson – Glasgow and Robbie Waddell – Stirling RC, will take a commanding lead from the other Glasgow pairs in the time trial, which could see them come out in a medal-worthy position.
Tom Morrison and Thomas Lowrie from Clydesdale ARC are the strongest of the junior field, having rowed together for years, which is why I think it’s the obvious pair to label as an A-final contender. Max Brown and Andrew Morrison from Glasgow Academy RC race in the Junior 16 pairs event and have already taken home the trophy at Ghent International Spring regatta for U19 pair. After a cancelled race at the National Schools’ Regatta, I think there will be speed to prove at these championships.
Women’s and Junior Girls’ Single Sculls
The women’s single sculls has one of the largest entries to date, with 18 scullers signed up to kick off racing on the Saturday morning. Of the women entered, a few names stand out as potential contenders. Heather Gordon from Inverness RC was a part of the GB Beach Sprinting team at the World Rowing Championships last year. Strathclyde Park can often whip up some frantic water, so will this experience in the sea’s waves be useful this weekend? Similarly, ex-Edinburgh University performance rower, Charley Faint comes hot off racing at the Metropolitan Regatta and will be focuused on regaining her title from last year. Sarah Happs, fresh off finishing her second year at the University of Massachusetts, returns to her old training ground to prove the step up in quality when you go across the pond to row. Finally, double GB representative Kloe Hunter has shown time and time again the sheer class of an international athlete on the junior stage. However, she now competes in the senior category under Strathclyde Park Rowing Club, coached by PDA Coaches Tom and Perri. Will Kloe’s young age correlate to a lack of horsepower in the senior category, if she qualified for the A-final?
On the junior stage, Briony Woods has scratched from the event, leaving the door open for others to collect the medal that Briony might have attained. I believe Scarlett Palmer is the favourite to take the medal home this weekend, coming in hot after a win at the National Schools’ Regatta. Ella Kalkman from Glasgow Academy RC is second to none other than Briony in her training, which shows promise for her this weekend with the absence of her clubmate. However, a challenge will come from Lucy Edwards, Home International Regatta Scotland Team sculler from 2024, whilst Rebecca Miller of George Watson’s College BC is also a strong contender for taking a medal in the junior category.
Women’s and Junior Girls’ Pair
Four pairs from Edinburgh University enter the Scottish Rowing Championships on Sunday; however, with the top senior women out with illness, the fastest crews will become much closer together than first expected. Freya Hughson and Charlotte Glaspy competed at BUCS Regatta, finishing up fourth in the intermediate pairs event, beating Isla MacCallum and Josephine Briggs, who won the B-final of the same event. Schmidt and Burns are likely to be named the top pair now, with Katie Robertson out with injury. I would put my money on the combination of Schmidt and Burns to take the title, and I think the other two pairs from Edinburgh might lock out the podium if everything goes to plan for coach John Higson. The spotlight will be on Zoe Beeson and Maisie Aspinall, the fastest junior pair in the GB trialists block multiple years ago, but will these two be able to jump back into this boat class and maintain the speeds they once saw? Mortimer and Innes of St Andrew BC are also on my list of A-final worthy boats; however, I think the lack of miles rowing in the same club will affect this crew, having only recently joined the same club.
On the junior side, the crew from Glasgow Academy RC of Sophie Swanson and Ruby Foss will race together for the last time in Scotland to challenge for the junior pair’s title. My money would be on this pair should the conditions turn for the worst on Sunday due to the vast number of hours this duo has spent together. A challenge will undoubtably come from Soyinka and Cochrane of Clydesdale and Glasgow University respectively, who are a powerful pair in flat conditions. This match is worth getting down to the bank for.
Overall, this weekend is shaping up to be a fantastic weekend of racing with champions crowned and training miles beginning to pay off. Check out the infamous Strathclyde Park Tea Tent if you’re on the bank and get your Danny Special to watch some fantastic racing.
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