BUCS Head is an important date in the university rowing calendar; a chance for some of the country’s best university crews to battle it out on the Tyne, and a potential indicator of things to come as the season progresses towards the Head of the River Race on the Tideway and the side-by-side racing season beyond.
The Men’s Championship Eight category is the pinnacle of men’s university rowing and will see a ferocious fight for dominance. Two of the top programs – Oxford Brookes University and University of London – are apparently not fielding crews at BUCS Head, so the top end of the field has opened up a little for some new challengers.
Newcastle University BC
Newcastle University enter with tremendous pedigree and an undeniable history of success in the eight, and with an eye to retaining the Victor Ludorum from the last BUCS Head back in 2020. Famous for their intense training programme under storied head coach Angelo Savarino, the Blue Star always produce some very polished and exceptionally aggressive racing units. They’ve had some good success this year already from some of the younger members of the squad on the trials circuit – George Thompson and Tom Symington produced an impressive performance in the pair back in November, and were the third-fastest full U21 pair at February trials. As a first eight, we have little to go off in terms of form. At Rutherford Head, Newcastle suffered a 12-second defeat to Edinburgh on the Tyne, though Newcastle were missing at least four of their senior sweep squad at trials. At full strength, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this eight really challenge for the top spot.
Imperial College London BC
Imperial College are certainly ones to watch going into the competition. They’ve got a number of very experienced returning athletes, including U23 medallist and Henley winner Casper Woods and Imperial first eight mainstay Max Ridgwell. They are also bolstered by some real depth and significant talent, including French junior international Noam Mouelle, and potential GB U23 Jake Smith. Early-season results at Fours Head were promising, though their recent performance at Quintin Head may be a little worrisome – both Imperial eights (potentially matched) placed behind both Oxford Brookes and UL crews. Just this Saturday, the top Imperial eight looked soundly beaten by an (admittedly stacked) Isis lineup from Oxford. Imperial are always there-or-thereabouts, but they will be keen to make sure they are on the right side of results later in the season and to quash any doubts as to their potential by taking the top spot at BUCS Head.
Edinburgh University BC
The University of Edinburgh hasn’t enjoyed a huge amount of success in men’s sweep since their Prince Albert win in 2016, generally coming in towards the bottom end of Championship categories. COVID hit the squad particularly hard last year when it came to travel arrangements and on-the-water training given Scotland’s more stringent precautionary measures. That being said, they enjoyed a pretty strong racing season and ended up losing to Nereus in a great race on the Friday at Henley. This year, they seem to have really hit the ground running with an excellent result at the recent Rutherford Head. The Edinburgh first eight took the overall victory over Newcastle by a sizeable 12 seconds (though four of Newcastle’s athletes were away racing at February trials). BUCS Head presents itself as an exciting opportunity, then, for Edinburgh to match up against full-strength Newcastle and Imperial crews. This may be the year for the boys in baby blue.
Durham University BC
The University of Durham may be dark horses here. Durham have had some really great athletes come through the pipeline in recent years – recent Olympic medallist (and Boat Race 2022 contender) Angus Groom, U23 medallist Oscar Lindsay and U23 World Champion George Bourne to name a few – and have produced some great results in smaller boats. They haven’t managed to translate that speed into the eight very frequently, though last year they were unlucky to go out to eventual Temple semi-finalists USR Triton on the Thursday at Henley. They’ve got a deep squad this year, though, and have already produced some very promising results at TURC New Years Head in January, where they handily beat Newcastle. With athletes like James Watson-Gandy, Jasper den Dulk, Jack Roberts and Gus John performing decently on the trials circuit, it seems like Durham may have a lot to work with this year. It will be interesting to see if they can challenge for the headship.
Prediction
This promises to be a fascinating race. My instinct puts Imperial College in first, with Edinburgh in second and Newcastle in third, though Durham could come through here.
Good luck to all crews.
Five Man
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