With limited entries across most open categories, the open single sculls look set to steal the spotlight at Wallingford Long Distance Sculls, with a stacked entry list promising one of the most competitive races of the early season. Big names from Leander Club and Oxford Brookes lead the charge, and with GB Trials on the horizon, this event should indicate where the balance of power lies in the single. Additionally, the smaller fields in the open doubles and quads still provide valuable opportunities for crews to test their speed and set the tone for the upcoming months ahead.
Open Single Sculls
Fielding an impressive 21 entries, the open singles offer one of the first chances to see some big names come head-to-head this season. With the introduction of the requirement for funded athletes to scull at GB Trials in November, we can expect this to be the new ‘norm’ for the beginning of each season from now on.
Leander Club: James Cartwright
James Cartwright of Leander Club, an up-and-coming name among the GB senior sculling team, will be looking to make a statement in this competitive field. With an impressive roster of results, including 14th at the World Rowing Cup in Varese, and a wealth of domestic experience, including a win in The Ladies’ Challenge Plate at Henley Royal Regatta 2025 and top-ten trials results, we can assume that he will be setting his eyes on that number one spot.
Leander Club: Oliver Costley
A four-time Henley Royal Regatta champion, Oliver Costley has had tremendous success sculling for Leander Club recently. A consistent name among GB Trials results, he regularly ranks among the top scullers at each trial event, including sixth place at the November 2024 Trials. These previous results highlight the sculling pedigree we can expect to see, and I imagine he will be looking to prove his place among the top GB senior scullers.
Oxford Brookes University Boat Club: Toby Lassen
Sculling has not historically been the preferred discipline for Toby Lassen compared to sweep. A prominent member of the Oxford Brookes University Boat Club, he has an impressive racing résumé featuring back-to-back U23 world gold medals for GB, senior international experience at the World Rowing Cup I, and multiple wins at Henley Royal Regatta. With a strong background built across both sweep and sculling disciplines, it will be interesting to see how he handles this first race against the strong competitors that can also be expected to be at this year’s November Trials shortly. Either way, Toby Lassen is a young talent to keep an eye on going forward as he integrates further into the GB senior squad.
Leander Club: Alex King
Another formidable entry from Leander Club, with a respectable sculling record, Alex King will use this event to check out his competition ahead of the November GB Trials. Despite minimal international experience or wins like other entrants, he is not one to count out. Last season, King placed 15th at the November Trials and saw trophy triumph at the Metropolitan Regatta in the championship double sculls. A very technical and powerful sculler, I am excited to see him battle for those top spots.
Hollowell Scullers: James Rudkin
Representing home club Hollowell Scullers, it would seem James Rudkin has started his professional rowing retirement…by doing more rowing. He has the most outstanding rowing achievements compared to competitors, including an Olympic gold and bronze, alongside many World Rowing medals. However, we have not seen him in a sculling boat since his junior years, so it will be interesting to see if he can translate that pedigree to the single. This could be a dark-horse entrant for some seasoned sculling professionals.
Open Double Sculls
This is another small field of entries, with only four boats competing across three clubs. Northampton RC is looking to double its chances of bringing home the silverware with two entrants in the category, featuring crews of experienced rowers across both sweep and sculling disciplines. Haberdashers Monmouth School Rowing Club offers what seems to be a fairly young entry compared to the others in this category, featuring rowers from their championship eight fielded last season at the National Schools’ Regatta. As expected, rounding out the field is an entrant from Wallingford RC on their home waters.
Open Quads
With only two entries amidst a freshly competitive season, there will be a tussle between Wallingford RC and Northampton RC. After an impressive Victor Ludorum win at the British Rowing Club Championships 2025 for a second year in a row, plus an equally impressive new senior squad head coach, Cameron Moffatt, I would assume Wallingford will be looking to build upon this success, and with home water advantage, we may see them come out on top on the day. However, Northampton are not to be discounted as the club has a strong sculling background and has seen success at many previous events.
Prediction
In the Open single, I expect established GB senior scullers James Cartwright and Oliver Costley to be the two main contenders due to their experience and strong historical results. Teammate Alex King would closely follow these two, with Toby Lassen and James Rudkin rounding out the top five.
For the Open double and Open quad categories, competition will remain tight despite minimal entries. In the Open double category, I would predict one of the two crews from Northampton RC will take the leading position based on their sculling background as a club and the double entry. However, with this being the start of the season, there is limited information on crews and results, so it could be anyone’s title to take. In the Open quad category, it is a 1v1 battle between Wallingford RC and Northampton RC again. Both clubs have a strong sculling focus, but with home water advantage and a fresh set of success at the British Rowing Club Championships 2025, I would not be surprised if Wallingford just about snatches the win.
