It’s more than just a single competition. One, two, three, or more years’ worth of training and competing and erg tests and planning culminate with a weekend’s worth of racing, when a 2,000m race is the only thing standing between a selection of the greatest junior rowers in the country and some highly sought-after silverware. The championship doubles event at the National Schools’ Regatta is always a hotly-contested event, with entries to the event in 2024 surpassing those of the championship quads and eights. As always, a strong field of more than 40 entries will be vying for the Fox Tankard for Championship Double Sculls.
Wycliffe Junior Rowing Club
It may come as a surprise to some to see Max Fullman appearing in the entries for the double sculls, following his bronze medal-winning performance in the championship singles last year at the young age of 16, but, when coupled with Alexander Judd, Wycliffe Junior Rowing Club’s entry to this event is a very strong one. At the back end of the 2024 season, Fullman could be seen swapping purple and white for red, white, and blue when he raced at the Coupe De La Jeunesse. Together, they started the season with Pairs Head, finishing second in the Junior 18 category and eighth overall, beating a handful of senior crews, and competed in singles at Nottingham Autumn Head, where Fullman won the Junior 18 event, and Judd came second in the Junior 17 event. Fullman went on to win November and February trials, and, as further demonstration of Greg Flower’s excellent sculling programme, Wycliffe’s quad finished eighth in the Junior 18 quad at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head, despite comprising solely Junior 17 athletes. Sadly, the Fullman-Judd double didn’t get a run out two weeks ago at Junior Sculling Regatta because the former was competing at Munich International Junior Regatta, but the latter finished third in the J17 single event, adding to the collection of silverware this crew has behind them from the season so far. If Wycliffe performs as strongly as expected at the National Schools’ Regatta next weekend, I highly doubt they’ll leave the National Water Sports Centre disappointed.
The Windsor Boys’ School Boat Club
The double from The Windsor Boys’ School Boat Club will, as ever, make for tough competition for the other entries. Thomson and Elliott raced as Windsor Boys’ B at the Junior Sculling Regatta, finishing in second place behind half of their own championship quad (the other two athletes were competing in Munich). A Windsor Boys’ double also won Wallingford Regatta the day before, and, at Head of the Heineken in the Spring, both Thomson and Elliott raced in a quad, which finished fourth in their category. In the second quad, bowed by Elliott, the crew finished fourth at Hammersmith Head, and at the beginning of this season, both also raced in the second quad at the Head of the Charles Regatta, placing fifth at one of the USA’s most prestigious events. There can be no doubt that Mark Wilkinson’s sculling programme at Windsor Boys’ School is among the best in British (or European) junior rowing, with most things the club touches turning to gold; Windsor Boys’ will be going to National Schools’ to win, and they are in with a very good chance.
Leeds Rowing Club
Another crew who could be in with a great chance next weekend is that from Leeds Rowing Club. One of the newer clubs on the British Rowing scene, LRC is based on a canal, meaning year-round training is possible, and their junior squad has seen considerable development in recent seasons. Leeds’ entry into the championship doubles is stroked by Isaac Morris, who will compete against his teammate from the GB quad at Munich International Regatta, Max Fullman. Morris is joined by William Chalk in the bow seat, with whom he raced at the Schools’ Head of the River back in March, finishing a respectable 17th in the championship quad event. Whether or not Leeds have as much experience in a double as the other competitors, they’re a powerful crew who could put on an impressive show on Sunday.
Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School Boat Club
The rowing programme at Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School Boat Club, led by Phil Gray, is among the most successful state-funded programmes in the country, perhaps second only to Windsor Boys’. Borlase’s double comprises William Wingrove and Samuel Vinall, who put on a tidy performance to finish fifth in the A-final at Junior Sculling Regatta over the bank holiday weekend. Conditions were tough, but they raced well, putting them in a strong position for the National Schools’ Regatta, where conditions could be equally blustery.
Honourable Mentions
Seeing Leander appear on the draw will undoubtedly send a shiver down the spine of some competitors, particularly with Junior 16 Alfie Webb (who also happens to be a Schools’ Head of the River silver-medallist in the quad event) in the bow-seat. Marlow Rowing Club finished fourth at the Junior Sculling Regatta, but for this National Schools’ Regatta, Jonathan Wiegandt replaces Brian Drees to join stroke-man Henry Curzon. Tideway Scullers School were just 0.4 seconds off Marlow in the time trial at the Junior Sculling Regatta, but didn’t get to row their final due to poor conditions, so could be coming to Nottingham with a score to settle.
Predictions
It could be a very close race for the Fox Tankard for Championship Double Sculls, but I think it will be Wycliffe Junior Rowing Club’s race. I’d be surprised if The Windsor Boys’ didn’t also find themselves somewhere on the podium, perhaps joined by either Leeds Rowing Club or Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School.
