National Schools Regatta 2025 – Open Championship Singles Preview

It’s finally here; the weekend that sparks a fire and shows the best junior athletes where they stack up nationally. The championship singles event is one of pure prestige; to be named the champion of this event gives you the right to put your name on the historic Sculls Cup alongside some of the best junior scullers to have ever lived, including the likes of Marcus Chute, Seb Devereux and Harry Leask spring to mind. These are big shoes to fill, but there can be only one.

Bewl Bridge Rowing Club – Jack Ribbens

It would dismiss his efforts not to include Jack Ribbens in this preview. He will lead the field out in the time-trial, which is unsurprising given his completion of the clean sweep at the Junior Sculling Regatta a couple of weeks ago. He has now picked up the gold medal in the Junior 15, Junior 16, Junior 17 and crucially, Junior 18 single sculls, which solidifies him as a running favourite for the championship singles. Coached by his mother, Brooke Ribbens, under Bewl Bridge, Jack has moved from strength to strength over his junior career and is now one of the country’s brightest prospects. Whatever the rest of the season holds for Jack, I think he will unleash a significant amount of fire and brimstone on the course this weekend, just to put the icing on the cake on an incredibly successful junior career.

Hartpury University and College Boat Club – Oliver Leppert

When we see a National Schools’ Regatta entry from Hartpury, I think there should be a subtle level of nervousness. The formidable coaching team at Hartpury, which has garnered many international medals in its own right, never seems to put an entry into this event unless it sees some real opportunity. Oliver Leppert placed fifth at the Junior Sculling Regatta this year in the single, which I think is an under-representation of his capabilities. Having just moved from Hereford Rowing Club to Hartpury, adjusting to a different club setup can take time and require significant changes, and I have it on excellent authority that those changes are being made at pace. As rowers, we are all aware that if you make a big change, you can expect to see big gains in speed, and Oliver is no exception to this rule.

Leander Club – Harry Caitlin

Leander, a temple of talent, now has one of the most powerful rising stars in the coaching world at the helm in George Nottidge. He is a formidable opponent to face in any realm of junior rowing and has opted to place their up-and-coming athletic talent into the championship singles in the form of Junior 16 athlete Harry Caitlin. With one eye surely on The Fawley Challenge Cup, this athlete will be keen to make a big impression in the toughest field of them all against some truly world-class opposition.

Broxbourne Rowing Club – Michael Janeway

A slight unknown on the junior circuit, Michael Janeway burst onto the scene at the Junior Sculling Regatta, claiming a bronze medal in the Junior 18 single sculls. This has put him in an interesting position this coming weekend. On one hand, he is a fast sculler who has proven that he can rise to the occasion in a competitive and challenging racing environment. With talent rising from the Junior 16 and Junior 16 categories, though, I am unsure where the line will fall. Regardless, he will still be a force that the other crews will have to reconcile or risk being left in his wash.

Star Club – Ben Howard

Ben Howard is the fastest entrant from the April GBRT U19 Trials Regatta, where he placed ninth overall, against some of the fastest scullers in the country. None of his opponents from that day will be racing the single in Nottingham, which may open the door for Ben to climb the rankings and challenge for silverware. I am conscious of the fact that one key name on this list was not at the Trials regatta due to age ineligibility, although even given this fact, I think that if Ben puts out his best race, he could be in with a very real chance of winning the event.

Henley Rowing Club – Jonty Stanbridge-Bennett

Another talent to roll off the fearsome production line at Henley Rowing Club, Jonty Stanbridge-Bennett placed fourth at the Junior Sculling Regatta. This young athlete is in only his third season of rowing after initially attending a learn to row course at the club. He may not be a favourite for the win but his talent is obvious and the focus will be on consolidating his position amongst the country’s top names.

Rob Roy Boat Club – Oisin McCormack

Another contender from the Junior Sculling Regatta A-final, Oisin McCormack was fifth in that race, eight seconds back on Stanbridge-Bennett (in conditions that led to fairly significant gaps between the athletes). Rob Roy aren’t a boat club that regularly produce national title-winning crews but they appear to be enjoying a purple patch at the moment, with a strong contingent of male and female scullers.

Prediction

For the gold and silver medals, it will likely be tight racing all the way to the buzzer. I am inclined to give the nod to Jack Ribbens, based on his broader body of results and strong pedigree at the National Schools’ Regatta. Second, I think, will be Ben Howard of Star Club. The tussle for the bronze medal will also be hotly contested, but in the end, bronze will fall around Harry Caitlin’s neck with Oliver Leppert finishing fourth.