National Schools’ Regatta 2025 – Girls’ Championship Coxless Fours Preview

In just under a week’s time, National Schools’ Regatta heads back to its original home at Nottingham for the first time in nine years, marking a long-awaited return to the course where many school-rowing legacies began. This year, the Colts Cup for Girls Championship Coxless Fours sees a draw of eighteen crews, from Scotland, Ireland, and England. With proven internationals and rising talents at play, this promises to be one of the most hotly contested events of the regatta.

Surbiton High School Boat Club

Topping off the timesheet is the Surbiton High School Boat Club entry, comprising O’Brien, Bates, Shaw, and Sinclair. Coming off a 12th place finish at Women’s Head of the River Race, the eight has disbanded and from it, produced a four. A key rower in this line-up would be Shaw, having represented Great Britain in the eight, at the Coupe De La Jeunesse, and then the Junior World Rowing Championship last year. If training has gone well, I expect this crew to be pushing for a podium finish. Starting closely behind is their second crew, made up of Martin, McVeigh, Jones, and Bruce. This line-up may not have the same experience level, but they’ll be hoping to make a strong impression. With less pressure and the advantage of chasing their top crew, they could find extra motivation to push up the field and chase down their first four.

Wimbledon High School Boat Club

Wimbledon High School Boat Club have entered a boat made of Parker, Stow, Fisher, and Lovatt. Their Women’s Junior 18 four placed fourth overall at Wallingford Regatta after their training camp in Sabaudia, and they’ll be hoping to get their hands on some silverware this time around. Their first eight at Women’s Head of the River Race placed 16th, not far off Surbiton High School Boat Club’s A-boat. So if they nail their time trial, we might get to see some close racing. However, their lack of international experience in the crew may come to light in their side-by-side racing, so they’ll need an aggressive and brave row to fight off some of the bigger names in this category.

Glasgow Academy Rowing Club

No strangers to the sweep events in the National Schools’ Regatta, Glasgow Academy Rowing Club have always fielded competitive crews over the last three years. This season, they arrive with strong form and valuable international experience under their belt. Fresh off a productive, week-long training camp in Ghent, and a packed racing schedule. The crew has proven their skill, with stroke seat Swanson and three-seat Foss having taken gold in the U19 pairs at the April Ghent Regatta. That result, combined with a second-place finish in the women’s coxed fours at the Spring Regatta, shows this crew is not afraid of tough competition. Glasgow Academy Rowing Club is also in a period of transition, following a change in leadership from long-time coach Iain Somerside to Kevin Plank. However, all signs suggest this has been a positive change, with the squad’s training and performance continuing to build. If their recent upward trajectory continues, Glasgow Academy Rowing Club could be in a strong position to make a serious claim for a medal.

Tideway Scullers School

The girls in red and yellow will be looking to carry their momentum from a standout performance at Women’s Head of the River Race to National Schools’ Regatta, with eyes firmly set on a championship medal. True to form, Tideway Scullers School continue to produce exceptional rowing talent. Sitting in the bow seat is Habdank-Toczyska, a rower with serious pedigree – her collection of medals from the Coupe de la Jeunesse and the U19 World Rowing Championships marks her as one of the top junior athletes in the country. This four from Tideway Scullers School has the trademarks of a medal-contending crew: strong fundamentals and serious race experience. I hope to see them in the race for first place.

Hinksey Sculling School

Hinksey Sculling School have established themselves as a serious force, consistently going bow ball to bow ball with some of the other most prominent names in junior rowing. While many of the key rowers last year have flown off to America to their respective schools, I’m sure the technical prowess this programme drills into rowers has also been instilled into this year’s crew. Campbell-Reide has set foot in the GB scene, having most recently gone to Munich in the sweep team. If the crew around her can rise to the standard set by their predecessors, Hinksey Sculling School could do very well, continue their upward rise, and be in the fight when it comes down to the final few hundred metres.

Honourable Mentions

Shiplake College Boat Club, St Edward’s School Boat Club, and Putney High School Boat Club are among those who I expect to be battling out for the top ten spots. While Shiplake College Boat Club as a club are immensely strong, I expect their top rowers to be put into the eight. That said, any of their crews will be capable of punching above their weight, and shouldn’t be dismissed. St Edward’s School Boat Club crews recently raced against eights from Leander Club, and any side-by-side racing will be helpful in sharpening their racing grit. Putney High School Boat CLub have been quietly building a very competent programme and with a history of talented rowers, a top ten finish should be well within reach.

Prediction

I think that the top spot will be going to Tideway Scullers School or Surbiton High School Boat Club, given the level of international experience in their boats. However, the rest of the field is so tight and competitive, it’s hard to predict who will take the last medal position, or even lower down the results’ table.