BUCS Head returns in all its glory to the Tyne this weekend. The Women’s Championship Quads will be as tightly contested as ever, with seven crews fighting it out for medals.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh have been dominant in women’s university sculling in recent years, winning BUCS Regatta two years in a row and BUCS Head last year. The returning champions set off first in the start order and will aim to pull away as much as possible from the other crews. They won Rutherford Head earlier this season by seven seconds, with the closest university crew 25 seconds behind. The aim will be to put in an equally dominant performance this weekend.
Newcastle
In 2022 Newcastle placed a comfortable third in this event, improving this to second over the shorter distance at BUCS Regatta. It will be interesting to see if they have carried this confidence into 2023. At Rutherford Head in December Newcastle placed third, 25 seconds behind Edinburgh; they will aim to close this gap as much as possible. The crew includes Rachel Bradley who placed third out of the U23 scullers at trials this weekend and with the added advantage of racing on home water they can’t be discounted for springing an upset.
Durham
Durham return to the Tyne following a second-place finish last year. They are under a new coaching regime, led by former lightweight word silver medallist Will Fletcher, which is bearing fruit. However, this is yet to transfer to sculling, where they lack strength in depth. Furthermore, the Durham crew will be weakened by the absence of their top lightweight scullers, including fastest U23 lightweight Izzy Sellers, her crew will be targeting a win in the Championship Lightweight category instead.
Reading
Last year Reading placed a disappointing fourth, 11 seconds behind third place Newcastle. Their squad looks to have been strengthened by some exciting freshers this year and they have a number of scullers returning from a successful trials last weekend, including second placed lightweight Lauren Maddison. At Fours Head they placed ninth in the Women’s Champ category, with their B boat winning the academic event. They will look to replicate that victory this weekend, where they face Edinburgh for the first time this season.
Imperial College London
Imperial have produced some impressive sculling results this season. They are off sixth and will chase down Nottingham, who they beat comfortably at Fours Head in November. The crew were the eighth-fastest championship crew at this event, just beating Reading. Lizzie Witt, who placed ninth in the Women’s Pairs at trials, is part of the crew and they will look to take some scalps over the more established sculling universities.
Prediction
Edinburgh won by eight seconds in 2022 and we expect a similar margin this year. Reading, Imperial and Newcastle will fight it out for the remaining medals, with the former two getting the better of the hosts. Nottingham and Loughborough will also compete in this weekend, and they could get the better of last year’s silver medalists, Durham.
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