The intermediate events at BUCS are a chance for top athletes at smaller or less developed programmes to battle it out with developing athletes at larger, more established ones. This creates a wide and diverse field of athletes from across the country, with largely unpredictable results. At this year’s BUCS Head, the absence of Oxford Brookes and UL will only increase the potential for a smaller programme asserting themselves at the top of the Men’s Intermediate Coxed Four category.
That being said, Newcastle University, Imperial College and the University of Edinburgh will no doubt field some quality boats that could all challenge for the top spot. Edinburgh in particular this year seem to have pretty tremendous strength in depth, with the second eight putting out a really strong performance at Rutherford Head and the entire squad racing well in smaller boats in Division 2. Durham University also put out some solid performances at Rutherford, bolstering optimism after a fantastic day for the boys in purple at TURC New Years Head. Depending on how Durham’s athletes are distributed across the various categories at BUCS Head, their intermediate coxed four could be one to watch. Certainly any boat from each of these four institutions could challenge for the headship; Imperial’s Academic Coxed Four at Fours Head performed well to take second place in its category – we may see those athletes competing here.
A significant challenge may come in the form of a boat from the University of Liverpool, who convincingly won Academic Coxed Fours at Fours Head last year. They have allegedly been showing some serious speed in training, and will be looking to see significant returns on their hard work on race day. The University of Exeter can never be discounted in this field; the boys in green are always technically proficient and tenacious. The University of Southampton, who fielded two matched coxed fours at Fours Head that placed a strong fifth and sixth, may also be in with a chance here.
As always, this event promises to be an exciting and hard-fought battle between a plethora of different clubs and athletes. It truly is a wide-open field, and any of the clubs listed above could field a boat to take the top spot. If I had to hone in on a definitive prediction, I might go out on a limb and call it for the University of Liverpool, followed by Imperial College and the University of Edinburgh. Alhough this all depends, obviously, on how programmes will divide their athletes between Championship and Intermediate events, boat classes, etcetera.
Good luck to all crews.
Five Man
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