Beginner talent can be one of the most exciting parts of university rowing, and BUCS Head is the first real opportunity to showcase a new cohort of novices. Many of these rowers taking to the Tyne at the weekend will only have picked up a blade for the first time in September, and given the highs and lows of recent flooding, it’ll be interesting to see who can potentially infiltrate the ranks and rival notoriously successful clubs such as Edinburgh and Birmingham.
University of Birmingham Boat Club
One of UBBC’s stand-out crews from the 2022/23 season was their women’s beginner eight, who were shortlisted for British Rowing’s Beginner Crew of the Year. Last year saw them take third place at BUCS Head, and it looks as though they could be on track to equal or improve that on the Tyne this weekend, especially having taken the win in this category at Bristol University Head in December by a significant margin.
University of Edinburgh Boat Club
Edinburgh University runs a tight ship with all its rowers, and this year’s beginner women’s squad appears to be no different. With a sterling track record including a ten-second win in this category at BUCS Head 2023, and both first and second-place finishes in the Women’s Head of the River (WeHORR) Beginner Academic category, they’ll be looking to continue their reign as a formidable force in beginners rowing.
Liverpool University Boat Club
Liverpool took the silver with their beginner eight at this event last year and will be looking to continue their positive streak, especially with their previous season’s beginner women having also performed well at WeHORR 2023. Liverpool also recently took on a new head coach, so I’m interested to see whether this change will have filtered down into their novice squads as well as seniors.
Queen’s University Belfast Boat Club
Another university with a strong novice showing year-on-year is QUB. Under the watchful eye of development coach Ryan Carney they will be looking to go one better than last season, as Queen’s missed out on a medal for their beginner women’s eight on the Tyne in 2023. No doubt, they will have their eyes firmly on the top three this time around. They’re fielding two boats into this category, speaking for the strength and depth of their novice program.
University of Nottingham Boat Club
Despite having finished in tenth place at BUCS Head last year, Nottingham made a big step on to come third in the beginner academic category at WeHORR 2023, behind two strong Edinburgh crews. If this successful streak has been carried forward into the new academic year, they could be the ones to watch when it comes to snatching one of the top spots.
Prediction
It’ll be no surprise for anyone to read that I largely expect Edinburgh to once again take the gold in this event, however, I think they could have some real challenges in the form of Birmingham and Queen’s Belfast. The Tyne can be a tricky beast, so whichever crew can deal best with the conditions thrown at them will likely come out on top, leaving all to play for in the Beginner categories.
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