As the curtain closes on the 2024-25 season, the British Rowing Junior and Senior Club Championships are the last opportunity for many crews to leave their mark and get themselves on the podiums. In typical Nottingham fashion, the weather threatens to cut many of the events short, increasing the stakes and adding pressure to each stroke these crews can make. In the Junior 18 women’s doubles, I am excited to see how many of these excellent pairings deal with the conditions and push one another as they all seek first place.
Hartpury College and University Boat Club
A sculling-based programme located in the southwest of England, Hartpury College and University Boat Club have produced a high pedigree of athletes for many years now, many of whom have gone on to represent GB throughout a range of age groups. Last year, after winning the National Schools’ Regatta and the Henley Women’s Regatta in the Junior 18 double, this club has a history of high-performing pairs. With three crews entered, I am sure their ambition for success will be a shared feeling. The first double to be set off is Gracie Janes and Daniela Raguckaite, who most recently reached the semifinal of Henley Women’s Regatta. These two surely have the watts in the boat, and with a few extra metres on the course to their aid, they will be striving for a podium finish. However, their remaining doubles are not to be overlooked and will surely be gunning it down the track.
Barn Elms Boat Club
Still coming down from the high of winning the England Home International Rowing Regatta Trials, this pairing is the one to beat in this event. Ella McDougall, known as a class single sculler, will surely bring her refined technique into this boat. After winning the junior women’s singles at the Metropolitan Regatta and coming second in the Junior 17 single at the Junior Sculling Regatta, she is a name to be feared in the sculling world. Her doubles partner, Giulia Riley, has spent her season stroking the impressive Latymer Upper School Boat Club eight that made it to the Friday of Henley Royal Regatta. Yet despite spending the majority of her time this year sweeping, I am sure she will not have lost her prowess. After representing England last year in the single scull, her racing experience will propel these two towards the gold.
Claires Court School Boat Club
Being set off second in the time trial this Friday, the pair from Claires Court School Boat Club will use their large bank of experience to the max. With Rebecca Donn in the boat, who earned herself a highly acclaimed red box as a J15 in The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup, she has not stopped there. She was selected to compete in the women’s quad at Coupe de la Jeunesse for GB only last summer. Alongside her doubles partner, they more recently made it to the Friday of this year’s Henley Royal Regatta. Though this is their first time competing in this crew this season, I know these two will be willing to throw everything into this event. Using their boat feel for quads, they will be well-versed in moving that double to the finish line.
Rob Roy Rowing Club
These two have been an incredible pairing for some time now. Though sadly missing out on fighting for the National Schools’ Regatta title earlier this year, I am sure they will use the British Rowing Junior and Senior Club Championships to make a lasting impression. At the very start of the season, the two narrowly got pipped to a silver medal at the Junior Sculling Regatta. Though disappointing, this still demonstrates their position in a strong field. This was further emphasised by their quarterfinal finish in the Rayner Cup of Henley Women’s Regatta, only losing by one length in an impressive race. I have a good feeling that they will be seen pushing the rest of the competitors onwards to make the podium.
Honourable Mentions
Though not seen in the double event this season, two crews have been entered from the very well-respected Sir William Perkin’s School Boat Club. Having their Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup quad reach the Friday of Henley Royal Regatta, sculling is this school’s forte. I hope these crews will give us all a masterclass in sculling and make their way towards the coveted A-final. Not as commonly mentioned, but very well deserving of our focus, is the crew from Trentham Boat Club. After making their way through Henley Royal Regatta qualifiers, the two athletes from this double are not afraid to back down from a challenge, and I have faith they will use their racing experience to their advantage this Friday.
Predictions
Following on from their success this past weekend, I believe that Barn Elms Rowing Club have what it takes to win this event; however, I think they’ll have to work for it. The crew from Claires Court School Boat Club will be hot on their tail, after fighting off the medal-hungry Rob Roy Rowing Club double, allowing them to retake the bronze. As I said earlier, the unpredictable weather may scupper the plans for the later finals, possibly altering the podium and leaving the race down to who can dig the deepest in a time trial.
