Provided the weather holds – and Storm Amy doesn’t cause too much disruption – we should be set for a fantastic weekend of racing. Indeed, at this point last year, we had already had to cancel events and were looking ahead into the gloomy months of winter with no hope of periodic racing and vacations from home waters to break up the ‘winter grind’. At least this year, we are starting strong, with hundreds of doubles and pairs taking to the Tideway this weekend to battle it out over a multitude of different events.
Leander Club – Sheasby and Didaskalou
The standard of the Leander squad in recent years has been nothing short of the sharp edge of junior rowing, with renowned coach George Nottidge at the helm. Sheasby and Didaskalou are the top scullers that Leander Club has to offer, and Sheasby made waves within the GB Trials Circuit last year. Despite starting further down the order than anticipated, this will only give them crews to chase, an extra source of motivation that many use in the drive to catch up with those ahead of them. I am genuinely excited to see them take to the Tideway as a debut for this season.
Marlow ‘A’ – Roughton and Caen
This is presumably the upper half of the successful Marlow junior quad from last season, seeing as Roughton is fresh from the Coupe team this summer, having raced in the U19 men’s single sculls. Making the Final of The Fawley Challenge Cup in 2024, Marlow is a progressive programme with plenty of room to step on. Hopefully, they will set an ambitious tone for the season ahead on Saturday.
Marlow ‘B’ – Tanovic and Skrabski
Presumably, the second half of the four boys that will constitute Marlow’s Fawley Challenge Cup project for 2026. Marlow are coached by Pete Chambers, one of the most established and successful junior rowing coaches domestically and on the world stage. These boys, despite being the second-ranked crew from their own club, will still be able to contend with the best crews in the country due to the depth developed at the club over the last five years, allowing them to field multiple top-class crews at any one time.
Tideway Scullers School – Brockway and Lomas
Winners of The Fawley Challenge Cup in 2021, Tideway Scullers have also been at the pinnacle of junior sculling for many years. Although some changes have occurred this year, with Rufus Tilt now at the helm of the programme, it is hoped that this move will see Tideway edge closer to its 2021 glory once again. Many talented scullers have come through the club’s programme and successfully transitioned from J16 to J18 events. This crew looks to be no exception, with Brockway racing in The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup last year; he has proven himself in the sweep boats. The question now is whether he and his doubles partner can make the step over to sculling and produce the speeds necessary to overturn some of the best clubs in the country.
Prediction
I think, given the pedigree of sculler within the Leander Club boat, it is a fair assumption to make that he should be the star of the day and take the win overall. The Marlow ‘A’ crew may be hot on their tail in second place; the bronze medal position is slightly more challenging to call due to the two crews seeming to be of a reasonably similar calibre. Nonetheless, I do think it is likely that this top crew from Tideway Scullers School will take the place on this occasion, just pushing the Marlow ‘B’ crew into fourth position.
