BUCS Fours & Eights Head once again returns to the banks of the Tyne. There’s something about a storm battering down in the week leading up to the event that makes it all the more exciting and adds an element of surprise… The beginners will have their tussle with the Tyne on Sunday, over a shorter 3000m course with 24 crews set to make their BUCS debut.
The naive optimism of some of the beginners is something to be admired and cautioned. As the UK continues to be sieged by Dudley, Eunice and Franklin, a prayer will be said as this vanguard of novices become the latest offering to the Tyne God. Nonetheless, it is a right of passage that must be undertaken, should this year’s cohort want to make memories as the season. After all, if you can’t do it on a rainy day in Newcastle, when can you do it.
Durham University BC
First off in this category are Durham who be confident about putting their local knowledge to the test. With no fours entered at BUCS Regatta last year, it’s time to see what this fresh cohort in a ‘normal’ year can do. They’ve already picked up some valuable racing experience at a couple of local races so perhaps we’’ see the palatinate rising back to the top of beginner rowing.
Imperial College London BC
With three crews entered, Imperial are coming with the largest entry in this event. Their depth at beginner level continues to be great year on year. Last year was testament to that with two crews in the final at BUCS Regatta, and their top four coming away with a well-earned bronze medal. There’s no reason the Putney based programme can’t come away with a medal this weekend.
Manchester University BC
With the absence of Surrey, all eyes will turn to Manchester to see if they can pick up from last year’s success. With Surrey 10s ahead of the pack last year, Manchester was the best of the rest. When there’s talk of the top beginner programmes, the Mancunians aren’t always the first to be reeled off compared to the Durhams, ICs or Surreys of the world, after last year’s success is the wind in this institution’s sails?
Queen’s University Belfast BC
Following the arrival of John Armstrong and Meghan Hunter, Queen’s have been able to produce consistency across men’s sculling and all aspects of beginner categories. They picked up medals when BUCS Head infamously took a hiatus to Gloucester and are always strong contenders for any race they enter. As there is a distinct lack of Edinburgh baby blue in this event, there’s a high chance the Irish can paint the Tyne green.
Prediction
One of the joys of beginners rowing is the unpredictability that comes with it. It’s one of the few opportunities where coaches get a brand-new cohort to work with and to develop. Compared with more experienced rowers, beginners will make huge amounts of progress from session to session as they pick up concepts such as feathering, suspending, and tapping down. It’s a pleasure to see a crew gain confidence and maturity as the season goes on and they learn how to implement a race plan to perfection. In light of this, Mentions must also go to Birmingham, Liverpool, UCL and Nottingham as crews to look out for this weekend. With the wind likely to play a large factor, lines taken by coxes will be the difference between winning and losing for some of these crews. That’s the nature of our sport and part of the great unpredictability of it.
My Predictions…Imperial, Durham and then another…
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