After the cancellation of the Sunday of this year’s National Schools’ Regatta, the junior women’s double was one of the many events left disappointed. That said, I hope this lack of racing earlier in the season would drive the athletes onwards and upwards, with rivalries being allowed to be brewed longer. With almost 40 crews entered and only 16 spots available after the time trial, it will enable Henley Women’s to lay the scene for some gritty, nail-biting racing.
Royal Grammar School Worcester Boat Club
In my eyes, Hodgson and Whitely are definite contenders to be called the ultimate double dream team. With almost two years of experience racing together in fine and coastal rowing, they are one of the most established crews entered. With success this season already coming in the form of a Junior Sculling Regatta silver medal, they are continuing their podium-winning style from the previous season. Both have also previously earned GB vests for Beach sprints, coming away with a gold at Coupe de la Jeunesse in the double. However, one thing these girls could not attain last year was a finalist spot at Henley Women’s Regatta. After missing out in the semifinal last year, will they have what it takes to take that step further in what seems to be an incredibly competitive field this time around?
Hartpury University and College Boat Club
As current champions of the Rayner Cup, Hartpury have proved that their programme can produce fast crews. This weekend, Reynolds and Asquith will set off fifth in the time trial, as one of the two Hartpury crews entered. Racing up from Junior 16, these girls have already dominated their age group at Junior Inter Regionals and Junior Sculling Regatta, taking clear wins over the rest of the field. Though they were unable to try and defend Asquith’s preexisting Junior 16 double title at this year’s National Schools’ Regatta, I am sure that these two will use that to fuel their campaign.
Raguckaite and Janes both came first in the British Indoor Championship 500m event late last December, to complete the full Hartpury podium, and have joined forces this time around in their double. As a Junior 16, Janes had a clean sweep season in this boat class, and I believe these girls will use this experience to their advantage. Not being ones to back down when faced with tough opposition, these two are willing to give it their all this weekend, shown by their ability on the ergo and their physicality to do so.
Rob Roy Boat Club
The Rob Roy pair has risen through the ranks this past season. From a B-final finish at last year’s National Schools’ Regatta to being beaten by less than a second to the line by the aforementioned RGS crew at this year’s Junior Sculling Regatta, good things are in place for this pairing. Like many of the crews entered, these two are returning from last year’s event, where they made their way to the quarterfinal with an impressive easily verdict. With the rate of progression these two are making, and their already established rivalry ready to be settled, I think this crew will give a solid performance.
Wycliffe College Boat Club
A premier institution for women’s sculling, Wycliffe College has produced some of the fastest crews this sport has seen over the years, with this one no exception. While their top quad has cleaned up many of the medals this year, this pairing has tirelessly worked behind the scenes. Coming away with the National Schools’ Regatta second quads title this past May, these two are well-versed in competitive racing. Branching out into the double only recently, the decision was well rewarded with a fifth-place finish at the Metropolitan Regatta in the championship women’s event. Though new on the scene, these two have already proved that they are not to be messed with.
Honorable Mentions
This year’s junior double event has seemed to attract some of the best of the best in terms of domestic racing. With Marlow Rowing Club entering a definite contender in the form of Cawdell and Wells (with the former having raced in the double for the Welsh Home International team last year), these two will surely perform well.
Another power duo comes from Walton Rowing Club. Walton is well known for their results in the smaller boats, not only winning the junior event for Pairs Head last year but having two athletes represent GB in the Junior 16 GB vs France match last summer, with Weddell coming away with a win in the single.
Entered in the form of a mighty composite for Nottingham and Northampton Rowing Club are Smith and Page. The latter won a silver medal in the girls’ singles at this year’s National Schools’ Regatta and has now teamed up with the formidable Smith. I am confident this boat will surely fly down the 1500m course.
Prediction
With a mixture of returning and new crew combinations this year, predicting who will come out on top of this incredibly intimidating list of entrants is complicated. Though RGS and Rob Roy already have their established rivalry, I believe that Wycliffe and Hartpury are biting at the heels. It is all reliant on the draw, though, with any of the crews entered already proving they will not settle for anything less than an opportunity to secure the Rayner Cup.
