A sunny bank holiday weekend marks a significant weekend in the junior rowing calendar, peaking for most with Junior Sculling Regatta, one of the first races of the regatta season. A lucky and skilled few have joined the GB U19 squad at Munich International Regatta, while their home clubs fight it out with 18 other crews at Dorney for that precious win just a few weeks ahead of National Schools’ Regatta.
Wycliffe College Boat Club
Winners of both Junior 18 and Junior 17 quads at Junior Sculling Head, Wycliffe College Boat Club, are kicking off regatta season with a score to settle. For Rose-Anderson, this is a chance to overturn the four seconds separating last year’s bronze medal quad from winners and close rivals Marlow Rowing Club. For the rest of the crew, there lies an opportunity to avenge their narrow fourth-place finish in the championship quads at the Schools’ Head of the River Race, perhaps a disappointment for such a high-achieving program. As top athletes Lawrence-Preston and O’Reilly are excused to Munich, Wycliffe College Boat Club’s up-and-coming scullers will race hard to prove this squad’s strength runs as deep as ever.
Marlow Rowing Club
Untouched by the call to Munich International Regatta, Marlow Rowing Club’s top line-up is identical to the crew that placed second at the Schools’ Head of the River Race back in March, and features two scullers – Wells and Haley – who won this event last year in an arguably more competitive field. These girls will be tired from a busy morning racing the quad at Wallingford Regatta on Sunday, but Pete Chambers’ rigorous program will have instilled in them a level of fitness that should keep them at the front of the pack. Also of note is Marlow Rowing Club’s B boat, which jumps into the quad from the coxed four, and they’ll also race this weekend. Though not likely candidates to win outright, this boat are a prime example of the depth of Marlow Rowing Club’s scullers, posting results throughout the season that rival many top outfits.
Henley Rowing Club
Henley Rowing Club announced their quad’s intentions by snatching bronze at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head after abstaining from the Schools’ Head of the River Race and racing an eight for much of the winter season. It seems that Henley Rowing Club will prioritise their quad as the top boat this year, a move that worked well for them two years ago, at the Junior Sculling Regatta in 2023. Henley Rowing Club A took silver in this same event, followed by bronze at the National Schools’ Regatta. Also that year, current middle pair Mack and Pagdin stormed to victory in Junior 16 quads at the Junior Sculling Regatta, National Schools’ Regatta, and Henley Women’s Regatta. Joined by current Junior 17s Hughes and Tong, this quad could be a formidable entry.
Trentham Boat Club
An identical Trentham Boat Club line-up last year, stroked by Phagurey, won the B-final in this event with a rapid last-500m sprint. Racing this season suggests their consistent standard, with 13th place at Schools’ Head of the River and 12th at Oarsport Junior Sculling Head in the junior quads category against similar competition to last year. Changing squads and the advent of the Munich International Regatta have created a more open field this year, revealing a prime opportunity for this crew to break into the A-final.
The Grange School Rowing Club
Just behind Trentham at Junior Sculling Regatta last year were The Grange School Rowing Club, with Farag, Knox, and Laundy racing to second in the B-final, having led for most of the race. They stepped on this season to come an impressive sixth at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head with identical times between both their runs – this crew clearly knows how to pace a 2km. Like Trentham Boat Club, The Grange School Rowing Club will enjoy the open field this year and have already proven themselves to be of the standard to reach the A-final.
Honourable Mentions
Following an impressive third place at the Schools’ Head of the River Race, Maidenhead Rowing Club would be a boat to watch out for; however, these formidable scullers are notably missing from Monday’s entry. In a similar vein, Headington School Oxford Boat Club just missed out on the podium at the Junior Sculling Head, yet seems to have entered a double as their top boat on Monday: still, a crew to be feared, knowing their historically high standards. A young crew from Nottinghamshire County Rowing Association includes Junior 16s Russo and Jenkins, who placed second in the Junior 15 double at the Junior Sculling Regatta last year, while Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School Boat Club have two silver-medallist scullers stepping up from last year’s Junior 16 quad at this regatta. Great Marlow School Boat Club’s quad rounded out the top ten at the Schools’ Head of the River Race, strengthened by the addition of Junior 16s Platt and Spence, who dominated the Junior 15 quad event for much of last season.
Predictions
A clear top three is Wycliffe College Boat Club, Marlow Rowing Club, and Henley Rowing Club, but several factors could influence the order in which they cross the line. Fresh-legged Wycliffe College Boat Club are most affected by the GB U19 trip to Munich International Regatta, while strong Marlow Rowing Club and Henley Rowing Club outfits will be tired, racing just 24 hours after they take each other on at Wallingford Regatta. Marlow Rowing Club’s depth and consistent training in the quad will lend them a slight edge to win, followed by Henley Rowing Club and Wycliffe College Boat Club in third.
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