BUCS head returns for the fifth consecutive year to the River Tyne for universities from all around the country to battle for event wins, BUCS points and the coveted Victor Ludorum trophy. The course covers just under 5km of tough tidal water, with BUCS heads of previous years seeing some infamously choppy conditions. The men’s intermediate quads is an event stacked with talent, and with 32 crews competing for that top spot, it should give us some close and interesting racing.
Reading University Boat Club
When it comes to top institutions for sculling in the UK, it is hard not to look past Reading University Boat Club. After switching to sculling only ten years ago, they have been a dominant force in university sculling events. In the 23-24 season, they won both the intermediate and championship quads at BUCS head and BUCS regatta, with no one matching their level of speed. They finished last season by making the Friday of The Prince of Wales Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. With so many of the winter heads in the Thames Valley being cancelled, Reading has done minimal racing, apart from Henley Sculls in November, where they took all the podium positions in the quads event. With their GB trialists not in these quads, some of those boats will be similar to the top intermediate quads entered this weekend. With eight open crews entered and six in this event, they start as favourites to take the win back to Reading. The bigger question is, how many of their intermediate quads will finish in the top three?
Queen’s University Belfast Boat Club
Another club with a strong history of success in sculling events, Queens Belfast Boat Club, brings talented crews from Northern Ireland. They had some very good performances last year, coming second and fourth at BUCS regatta in the championship and intermediate quads, respectively, before their top crew made the weekend of The Prince of Wales Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. This season, they swept up most of the wins at their own Queen’s Head of the River, and come to Newcastle this weekend with two intermediate quads ready to challenge for the win. With Reading University having two championship quads, meaning their third quad is in the intermediate event, does that level the playing field for clubs such as Queen’s Belfast to take the win?
University of St Andrews Boat Club
The Scottish club brings nine crews to the Tyne this weekend, hoping for more BUCS medals. University of St Andrews Boat Club had a good 23-24 season, with a fourth-place finish in the intermediate quads at BUCS head, before going one better at BUCS regatta, securing the bronze medal. With no crews entered in championship events, this will be their top boat, potentially giving them an edge over many other top clubs with their first boats entered in the championship category. Before Christmas, they journeyed to this same stretch of river for Rutherford Head. Although their quad was a little off the pace compared to the other university opposition, they should be challenging for the top spots on Saturday.
Notable Mentions
Nottingham University Boat Club also made the trip to Rutherford Head before Christmas, and their sculling crews posted some quick times, which should translate into good results for their two intermediate quads this weekend. Bath University Boat Club’s second quad won the intermediate event at Bristol Head before Christmas, so although they are starting a little way down the start order, they may have enough power to move up to the final rankings. Do not rule out Durham University Boat Club or Newcastle University Boat Club. Home river advantage does make a difference, especially in a coxless boat, so these crews may pull a surprise result.
Predictions
It is impossible not to look at Reading University Boat Club ‘A’ for the win. They are so dominant in sculling events, and given that is their sole focus, they will have had lots of time in these boats. However, I do not think it will be a Reading one-two like last year. The Queen’s University Belfast Boat Club ‘A’ boat will finish second, with the Reading University Boat Club ‘B’ boat finishing third. Bath University Boat Club ‘A’ should not be far off the top three but will just miss out.
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