For BUCs Head this year, within the Women’s Championship 8+ category we have an extremely similar line up. All competed last year apart from Exeter, finishing in this order: University of Edinburgh, Newcastle University, Durham University, Imperial College London, and The University of Nottingham. With a plethora of storms and bad weather, these crews will have had limited time out on the water or at events, meaning this will be an interesting race to watch.
Durham University
With a strong finish on their 2022/23 season, Durham have started their 2023/24 campaign off to a great start. Their top eight came third in their category at Rutherford Head in December 2023 which equates to 11th overall. To top this off, they were the overall winner at Tyne Head 2024. Although personnel will have changed over the year, they came an impressive 12th at WeHORR 2023.
University of Edinburgh
Having had time doing strictly land training, the girls at Edinburgh will be keen to get out on the water and race again. Their winter programme set them up for a solid 18th overall at Rutherford Head 2023, nabbing a fourth place within their category. However, their second eight beat them at Rutherford, so perhaps with a crew change, Edinburgh will be more fierce coming into BUCs head. Again with a new crew from last year, at WeHorr 2023 they finished tenth.
Newcastle University
On the home track for this year’s edition of BUCs Head, the Blue Star have extra knowledge in rowing, steering and where they are on the course. Finishing second in their category to Molesey at Rutherford Head 2023, eighth overall, they will want to build on this, and have the confidence that they can take the winning spot. At WeHorr 2023 they placed 14th.
University of Nottingham
Although Newcastle is a long way for these athletes to come, their coach, Ade Roberts, saw the benefits in getting them to race at Rutherford Head 2023, coming fifth in their category and 25th overall within this race. Back after the turn of a fresh year, they have the extra benefit of having raced this course only a few months prior. At WeHorr 2023 they came 19th.
Imperial College London
Although the races for Imperial College London have been different to that of the previous crews, they enjoyed a stellar showing at Quinin Head, coming fifth in the women’s championship event. Even though they haven’t experienced the Tyne course this year, there will be wily racing veterans littered throughout this crew. At WeHorr 2023 they finished in 18th place.
University of Exeter
As Exeter didn’t race this category at BUCs head last year, they arrive as a surprise entity. We haven’t seen them on the Tyne nor Tideway in 2024 but the hunger to race will be fresh and imminent. Previous results include 54th place at WeHorr 2023.
Prediction
Given the results from previous years and over this current season, there will be some extremely tight results. I predict Newcastle University to finish in first place, tightly followed by Durham University. I think it’ll be close for the bronze between a rapidly improving Nottingham and Edinburgh. With Imperial and Exeter sticking it out in close contention, we’re set for an epic Tyne tussle. Best of luck ladies!
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