The highly anticipated regatta season is finally upon us, with a thrilling, side-by-side battle highlighting the crews to watch. With 12 women’s eights entered, Wallingford Regatta is set to prove a tough fight and give crews and their spectators an insight into how their seasons could play out.
Surbiton High School Boat Club
Following an impressive and consistent winter calendar, the Surbiton High School Boat Club crews will be looking to maintain their position at the top of the field. Back in March, at the Schools’ Head of the River, two of the junior 16 squad’s eights collected medals, with a win in the Girls’ Junior 16 Champion Eights, and a silver in the Girls’ Junior 16 First School Eights category. At the weekend just passed, Surbiton High School Boat Club, representing Thames London West, earned a second-place finish in the Women’s Junior 16 Eights at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta, sharing the podium with many of the competitors they will face again this weekend. Clearly, these crews consist of determined and skilful rowers who are not unfamiliar with fighting at the front.
Lady Eleanor Holles School Boat Club
Close competitors to Surbiton High School Boat Club, Lady Eleanor Holles School Boat Club are no strangers to the eight boat class as their recent efforts have produced an impressive set of results. After navigating the Tideway, Lady Eleanor Holles School Boat Club took a fourth place finish at Schools’ Head in the Girl’s Junior 16 Championship Eights, and another fourth position at Hammersmith Head, similarly in the Women’s Junior 16 eights. There is no doubt in saying here that although recent results tell us that mere seconds could make or break one of these crews’ event, these two crews are strong and clear contenders in the running for the win this weekend, predicting a thrilling display of junior rowing and an exciting spectacle for all.
Godolphin and Latymer School Boat Club
The athletes at Godolphin and Latymer School Boat Club are sure to be familiar now with the fellow crews hot on their heels, as proved by their successful sweep at Schools’ Head, cruising to a win in the Girls’ First Junior 16 School Eight, and a third in the second eights’ category. By comparing these results, it becomes clear how competitive and close these rival crews are, furthermore building the excitement and uncertainty surrounding the fastest eight. The close-knit bond between these rowers has produced multiple national champions and dominant performances from the school, identifying the potential that these juniors have to start their regatta season with a golden finish.
Wallingford Rowing Club
Upstream from their competitors, the crew of Wallingford Rowing Club rowers will surely have their eyes on the win this weekend, hoping to maintain their streak following on from the Junior Interregional Regatta where they stormed to the front to take a win in the Women’s Junior 16 eights. They were not the only successful crew from Wallingford Rowing Club that day as their Women’s Junior 16 pair collected a bronze medal, and the Women’s Junior 16 coxless four fought their way to fourth place. It is clear that these rowers are more than capable of delivering an inspiring row to set them ahead of their rivals, provided they once fought to bring their determined and fiery mindset to Dorney Lake.
Prediction
Considering the mentioned crews and the others who are not likely to be left in their wake, I can predict that the fastest crew will be Surbiton High School Boat Club, with Godolphin and Latymer School Boat Club mere seconds behind, followed by Wallingford Rowing Club and Lady Eleanor Holles School Boat Club, however it is highly likely that we will see a six-boat battle to the finish line.
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