The Junior Sculling Regatta (JSR) was held The May Bank Holiday Monday following National Schools Regatta at Dorney Lake over a 2000m course. Some J15 crews and J16 small boats which had not been allowed at NSR due to COVID restrictions limiting numbers and JSR was limited to 250 crews with entries from nearly 90 clubs from across the country.
HRC had three crews in the girls events – WJ15 Octopule, WJ15 quad and WJ15 2x. The boys had two J15 quads. A time trial was held with the top 18 crews going to 3 6-boat finals A, B and C. The remaining crews were eliminated.
With a field of 35 crews in the time trial, the boys A crew – Albert Butler, Henry Pusey-Arysad, Pascal Giret, Roman Meredith and Cox Caitlin Emery, finished 6th to qualify for the A Final. The 2nd boat of Monty French, Louis Bolton, Kit Daley, Connor Simpson and Cox Rose McEwen finished 23rd.
In the A final the boys put a very determined final 500m to improve on their position and finish 5th with 4 notable schools finishing ahead of them.
Competing in three of the four events available to J15 girls, the HRC crews dominated the J15 events finishing 1st in all three time trials, 2x, 4x+ and 8x to qualify easily for the A finals and then taking Gold in all three A finals with dominating performances.
First A final up for the girls was the 2x of Tabbie Hall and Freya Weiser. By 500m the girls were already a commanding 6 secs up on nearest rivals, Headington and they continued to build on this finishing over 28 seconds ahead at the line over 2minutes ahead of the 6th placed boat.
Next up was the 8x of Evie Bell, Allysha Stokes, Sophie Eltze, Anna Merritt, Ruby Roger, Mimi Dal Lago, Sophia Spanswick, Emma Eltze and Cox Emily Simmons. Having finished only two seconds ahead of Wimbledon High School in the time trial, a tight race with was to be expected. Whilst always leading the Henley girls didn’t shake Wimbledon off until the 1000m mark but after this, powered away to finish a comfortable two lengths clear.
Last up and last race of the day was the 4x+ of Matilda Macartney, Gwennie Hunter, Ella Dickson, Florence Lenthall, cox Matilda Ley. The race unfolded in a similar pattern to the doubles with the Henley crew clear of the opposition by 500m and continuing to build on this through each 500 to finish 10 lengths clear of nearest rivals Sir William Perkins School Rowing Club and nearly a minute ahead of the sixth placed crew, another dominating performance.
Great racing from all the crews involved.
