National Schools’ Regatta 2025 – Open Junior 16 Quads Preview

As the Junior 16 quads return ‘up north’ for the 2025 rendition of the National Schools’ Regatta after a brief stint for some at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta earlier this spring, we can once again be graced by the unpredictable weather Holme Pierrepont has to offer. 19 crews are entered in this year’s event, and despite the slight drop in entry numbers, there will surely be plentiful entertainment when these crews race on Sunday.

Walbrook Rowing Club

Granted an extra opportunity to lead the pack out of the time trial, Walbrook will be setting off first this year, hoping they can cling to that position when it comes to the finals later that evening. Though just edged out by Windsor in the Junior Sculling Regatta final after winning the time trial, their performances have been a welcome opposition to the longstanding tradition of a clear Windsor Boys’ victory. The depth of the Walbrook squad is equally hard to ignore, with victories at Bedford Spring Head and consistent dominance in doubles (placing second, third and fourth) suggest a club in good health. They lost out last year too when Eton Dorney was hosting, by just 0.3 of a second, so perhaps a change in location may equip them with the gusto to end this heart-aching tradition

Marlow Rowing Club

On the rise with a bronze medal at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head and a strong training camp in the bank, Marlow look poised to clinch a spot on the podium after last year’s fourth-place finish. To get there, though, they’ll need to keep hold of their third-off starting position and increase their fifth-place Junior Sculling Regatta finish. It can be done, though, and Marlow, a club of great prestige and credible alumni, will require several tricks from their box of experience to pull out a win at arguably the biggest race of the year

Henley Rowing Club

Henley are continuing to search for a breakthrough result that matches the club’s storied name. Fourth at the Junior Sculling Regatta, sixth at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head and setting fourth off on Sunday, the form Henley have found seems to be behind the line of their normal achievements. Their strongest showing this season was a comfortable silver in the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta quad category, though this does pit representative regional crews against each other, so some opposition would have been excluded. Nonetheless, Henley seems to be building to a big finish this year; the only question is whether they can get there in time for Sunday.

Windsor Boys’ School Boat Club

Reigning champions and starting second, The Windsor Boy’s School are a formidable force and fresh off their globe-trotting season, which saw them claim victories at the Heineken Head and the Head of the Charles in the Junior 18 categories. At home, though, they’ve kept up their pedigree, claiming first and third at the Junior Sculling Regatta and sweeping their category in the quad at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta. Windsor’s strength lies not just in one crew but in squad depth, and they’ve shown they can execute under pressure year after year. Last year’s winning margin over Walbrook wasn’t wholly convincing though – the question is whether they can secure that dominance in a season that feels tighter at the top. On Sunday, it will be Windsor’s race to lose.

Claire’s Court School Boat Club

Setting off fifth this year, paralleling their finishing position last year, Claire’s Court are climbing the regatta ladder this season, with wins in hand for both the boys’ and girls’ categories at Hammersmith. Claires Court is excelling across the board. These new J16S have already made their club proud this season and are paragons for the effort to achieve unified club goals and subsequent successes. Claire’s Court have nothing to lose going into Sunday’s racing.

Prediction

Arguably the pinnacle of schoolboy rowing, the National Schools’ Regatta will offer over 5000 competitors the chance to make history and is a proud culmination of their efforts this season. Heading in, I’d almost guarantee a Windsor Boys’ podium finish, but the real question is whether they can withstand Walbrook’s efforts to supersede them. Where other crews stand is a guessing game, but I’d say Marlow appears to have done enough this year to deserve such a spot. We’ll just have to wait until Sunday to find out.