A near-record 36 crews entered into the Sherriff Cup marks the largest field in this event since 2019, as each club aims to come out on top in one of the largest junior regattas in the UK. Though the regatta goes back to old ways by returning to Nottingham this year, many of these crews are at new frontiers of junior women’s rowing; Wycliffe seek their third title in as many years, while Tideway Scullers could go two for two on their way to the coveted triple – Schools’ Head of the River, National Schools’ Regatta, and Henley Royal Regatta. There’s been close racing for so many crews in the lead up to this event – only the heat of the final will ultimately separate the best from the rest.
Tideway Scullers School
Despite Munich Junior International Regatta occupying bow pair van der Wiele and Kerbiriou over the bank holiday weekend’s racing, Tideway Scullers used the stage of Wallingford Regatta to prove they could not be fazed. They managed a commanding victory over the rest of the field, including a three-second gap to Marlow RC, whom they also beat to the pink flag at the Schools’ Head of the River. Now back at full strength and bolstered by world silver medallist and Henley Royal Regatta winner Delevante in the three seat, Tideway are on track for their best finish in the quad at the National Schools’ Regatta in years, and could well complete the second part of the elusive triple.
Wycliffe College Boat Club
Like Tideway Scullers, Wycliffe’s dominant performance at the Junior Sculling Regatta proved there was no slowing them down, even with half the crew – middle pair O’Reilly and Lawrence-Preston – competing in Munich. This crew’s winning start to regatta season showed that while there may be no filling the shoes of last year’s iconic unbeaten outfit, these girls will certainly try. Since their fourth-place result at the Schools’ Head of the River, Wycliffe have shown yet another step on to win at both the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head and Regatta: if they can continue with this momentum, they may well top the podium again this week.
Henley Rowing Club
Henley RC have wasted no time laying out their quad’s strength ahead of regatta season – off the back of a bronze medal in the quad at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head, they went one better to finish second at Junior Sculling Regatta at the start of this month. A similar trajectory in 2023 ultimately saw their top quad come away with bronze from the National Schools’ Regatta, while this crew’s stern pair – Mack and Pagdin – dominated the Junior 16 quad category all season. By anybody’s standards, this is a fast and exciting project: I am sure this will not be the last we see of this crew, as they gear up to qualify for Henley Women’s Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta on their home stretch.
Marlow Rowing Club
Marlow haven’t missed the podium at National Schools’ Regatta since 2019, and have kept a similar streak throughout this season. They matched last year’s result at the Schools’ Head of the River with another second-place finish back in March, and are primed for yet more silverware this weekend, if they can overcome stiff competition. A busy bank holiday weekend for Marlow saw two medals for this crew – silver at Wallingford Regatta behind Tideway Scullers, and bronze at the Junior Sculling Regatta behind Henley and Wycliffe. With all three of these rival crews competing for the Sherriff Cup, Marlow need to fight hard to maintain their spot at the very top of women’s sculling. However, a strong fourth-place finish for their ‘B’ quad at the Junior Sculling Regatta suggests there is still significant speed to be found within their ranks. Perhaps a rejig of the crew and those few more weeks’ training will be the slight edge this boat needs to confirm their seat on the podium.
Claires Court School
Two-time Henley Royal Regatta winners Claires Court School have enjoyed a strong start to this season, skipping the Junior Sculling Regatta but placing third in the quad at Wallingford Regatta, just four seconds behind Marlow and 13 seconds clear of their next competitor. With a strong sixth-place at the Schools’ Head and ex-GB sculler Donn on board, the A-final is well within this crew’s reach, as they aim to improve on last year’s fifth place in this event.
Hartpury University and College BC
This young crew out of Hartpury’s high-performance programme is teeming with talent, including two national champions in bow-woman Hudson-Hulls and stroke seat Janes, both now J17s, and a world silver medallist in Catherine Gardner. Joined by the powerful Raguckaite, this quad will aim high as Hartpury’s first entry into this event since 2021. Following success in the Junior 17 singles event at Junior Sculling Regatta, with fourth, sixth, and seventh-place finishes, Hartpury will arrive in Nottingham ready to combine technical sculling with the raw power they’re best known for.
Sir William Perkins’s School
Perkins are surely thriving off the back of a successful head season, but have yet to showcase their top quad’s speed over a shorter distance. Their most recent outing as a crew yielded silver at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head behind Wycliffe, while later races have shown their talent in small boats, notably with silver for two-seat Thornton in the single at Junior Sculling Regatta. Last year’s National Schools’ Regatta brought a haul of medals for the SWPS girls, including two bronze and one silver for current crew members Thornton, Macgregor, and Nicholas, respectively. If this crew can adapt well to being back in the quad, they could also collect more silverware in this boat.
Notable entries
Maidenhead’s third place at the Schools’ Head is a positive sign that they can step on from last year’s sixth place at the National Schools’ Regatta, though their top quad has been largely absent from racing since then.
After finishing tenth overall last year, Trentham will set their sights on the A-final, while Borlase similarly aims to overturn the 0.7-second margin that kept them from the final at Junior Sculling Regatta.
Hexham RC are an exciting entry, with three returning members of their Junior 16 quad that placed second at the 2024 National Schools’ Regatta: it remains to be seen how they’ll step up to racing at championship level on such a large stage.
Following their qualification for the final at Wallingford Regatta, both The Grange School and Stratford-upon-Avon BC are strong bets to improve upon last year’s results.
Headington School Oxford and Shrewsbury School are less established in the quad but have built momentum heading into this race, which makes them strong contenders for high placings.
Predictions
Out at the front of the pack, I’m most excited to see Wycliffe’s duel with Tideway across the weekend: both boats led their finals from the get-go at the Junior Sculling Regatta and Wallingford Regatta respectively, and will be back to their absolute best, ready to snatch the Sherriff Cup. Behind them, Henley will surely have found even more speed with their extra time in the quad, while Marlow will certainly have a fierce response to their results over the bank holiday weekend. Though Sir William Perkins’s School haven’t raced a quad in some time, they surely have it in them to slot right back into the top of the category where they belong. I can’t look past Wycliffe to retain their title, followed by Tideway Scullers. Rounding it out with bronze could be any of Henley, Marlow, or Sir William Perkins’s School.
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