Windsor Boys School ‘A’ v Tideway Scullers School
It seemed to be Windsor’s race from stroke one as they powered off the blocks at 45, Scullers seemed to conserve a bit more, underrating Windsor by two pips, but coming up half a length short as the camera picked up at the end of the Island. Windsor looked a little less relaxed than their usual fluid style as they went through the opening minutes of the race, allowing Tideway Scullers to close the one and a quarter length lead from the Barrier to a length by Fawley. By Remenham, Windsor had stretched their lead back out to one and a quarter lengths. But, only a couple of strokes later, Scullers seemed to mount their charge, raising their rate and forcing a response from the Windsor crew as they matched the higher rate. As the wind picked up coming into the line, Scullers seemed to catch the water over a few strokes, which sealed their fate, booking Windsor a spot in the final.
Hinksey Sculling School v Molesey Boat Club
Both crews flew off the start, trying to gain an edge over the other. Molesey came right over towards Hinksey’s water as they moved down the Island, likely blown over by the strong headwind that’s been picking up over the morning. Despite sitting lower on the rate than their competition, it was Hinksey who stuck their nose in front, leading by a canvas at the Island. Hinksey then stretched out their lead, slowly but surely, moving out to a three-quarter length lead by Fawley. Molsesy could hold their speed better as the wind came in and managed to close to half a length by the Mile mark. Molesey looked to be nearly spent by this point, having used more of their bullets in the earlier stages to close the gap, whilst Hinksey looked calm and composed despite sitting into a strong wind. The half length margin held to the one Mile marker where, in the closing stages of the race, Hinksey were able to hold off the rate surge from Molesey whilst still rowing a long, loose rhythm, before moving out to three quarters of a length lead and securing themselves a ticket to the final.
Final Preview
Windsor Boys School v Hinksey Sculling School
Last year’s semifinal rematch returns as the National Schools’ Regatta winners face off against the fourth-place finishers. Windsor is the on-form sculling club right now, and it doesn’t look like much will be able to slow their charge. They won the National Schools’ Regatta by fifteen seconds in some of the most horrendous conditions witnessed in junior rowing, demonstrating this crew’s ability to scull brilliantly even in strong winds and bouncy water. This Hinksey crew sat in and around the middle of the top-end of the quads and had a good showing in the rough waters of Holme Pierrepont, just finishing outside the medal range. Yet, at Marlow Regatta, they finished twelfth, bested by crews they had beaten only a few weeks earlier. Clearly, they have made a significant step on since that regatta, taking out third place finishers, Molesey, today, showing how they are clearly on the up. I think it will take a lot for the Hinksey crew to overcome this Windsor crew, and I think it might just be a challenge too big to conquer. For this reason, I think we’ll see a repeat of last year’s result as Windsor take home the The Fawley Challenge Cup, again.
