The Championship Coxed Four is always a fun event to watch. It’s a slog-fest, with bigger athletes really testing their strength in a heavy boat class that is defined by chunky rhythm and pure, unadulterated power. This event is a personal favourite of mine, and I’m excited to see the undoubtedly close racing that Saturday will produce.
Oxford Brookes
Another event with Brookes coming in as hot favourites, except in this category, Brookes have three fours entered. The question is, then: will the coxed four medal podium be an all-Brookes affair? It certainly seems like a distinct possibility. Brookes absolutely dominated the coxed four category at Marlow, with the second-placed crew seemingly BUCS eligible. Brookes also took a convincing win at the Metropolitan Regatta in the four. The ‘C’ four entered at BUCS may well be the same boat that raced at Marlow, with Toby Lassen in bow. If so, I reckon these boys will be very tough to beat.
Newcastle
Newcastle had a strong showing at Marlow with a third place finish behind two Brookes boats, ahead of Durham and Edinburgh. It looks like this same line-up is back in the coxed four for BUCS, and will be looking to see if they can close the gap on that BUCS-eligible second place Brookes four. This is a strong crew: Alex Milne has been a sculler on the scene for some time, having raced the GB/France Match as a J16; Bruce Turnell represented GB at the Coupe de la Jeunesse in 2018; George Thompson went to the Coupe in 2019, in the coxed four; Joe Adamson has represented GB at both European and World U23 level as a sculler. This is a classy boat, and definitely one to watch.
Cambridge
Cambridge performed strongly at the Metropolitan Regatta in Championship Coxed Four, taking second just behind a strong Thames crew, and well ahead of the rest of the field. Some of the athletes in that crew, including Blue Boat two-seat Ben Dyer, seem to be making an appearance here too. Clearly Cambridge have strong pedigree this year, and should certainly be making a push for the podium, if they can get through the looming, ominous wall of Brookes boats.
Bristol
Bristol seem to have their top athletes entered in the coxed four here, with a strong crew that took a strong second place finish at the Metropolitan Regatta, only a few seconds down on Brookes, notably ahead of crews from UL and Imperial. Some time has passed since then, and crews can certainly pick up a huge amount of speed in the gap between the Met and BUCS, but clearly Bristol has built a good foundation in this boat class that they can really hope to build on in this important event – look out for Bristol in the mix at the top end.
Imperial & London
Imperial will certainly come into this event with high aspirations, as recent Prince Albert Challenge Cup winners at Henley (2018). They had a bit of a disappointing result at the Met, coming in fourth behind Brookes, Bristol and UL, though Imperial may have had matched fours in the event. Certainly, Jack Walsh and Max Ridgwell are two experienced and highly proficient athletes who will lead this boat to a tenacious performance. UL will certainly want to establish themselves as the superior London-based University crew, though, and will be buoyed by the result at the Met some weeks ago. They’ve got some strong athletes in the crew who have been around since Junior level, with Isaac Workman having competed at the Coupe in 2018. Between Bristol, Imperial and UL, there will certainly be a dogfight to try and have a crack at the bottom end of the medals.
Edinburgh, Durham & King’s College
Durham and Edinburgh had a really tight race at Marlow, coming in fourth and fifth respectively in the coxed fours with only a second between them. Their mid-pace speeds were incredibly similar, as well as their last 500 speed; indeed, the biggest margin that Durham had over Edinburgh during the entire piece was going through the first 500. While the crews seem to have changed in terms of personnel for BUCS, hopefully the close racing between these two crews will remain, and produce a fierce, personal contest. King’s College haven’t shown their speed yet, but as this is their sole men’s crew entered in the regatta one can expect that this will be their top athletes.
The Men’s Championship Coxed Four will undoubtedly provide a great spectacle and a brilliant display of some of the most powerful athletes on the University rowing scene. While I imagine Brookes will take the top spot, I think an all-Brookes podium would be a tall order. Indeed, I think beyond first, this event really is open season. I can definitely see Newcastle taking the silver, but I would be remiss to discount Cambridge. Bristol, Imperial, London, Edinburgh and Durham could all have a crack at the lower medals, too. This really will be one to watch.
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