One of the finest races at any regatta. The Lightweights always delivery some outstanding racing. This year’s reduced field still has some of the top names in lightweight rowing and it will certainly be a race not to miss.
Newcastle University
Stroked by their Captian, Stan Cannons, The Blue Star are fresh of a second place finish in Tier 2 Coxless Fours at Marlow. The lighties put up a valiant effort against the bigger lads from Northwich, a crew which contained the likes of George Lawton. Newcastle have a dominant reputation in this event and this year’s quartet will be fully aware of the pedigree that they have in this event. They train to a gold medal standard and after an encouraging result at Eton Dorney there is no reason that they cannot strike gold once more.
Oxford University
Oxford have two boats entered and by the looks of things, at least one of them will contain athletes who won this year’s Men’s Lightweight Boat Race at Ely. They entered a boat into the Championship Coxless Four at Marlow, avoiding a direct comparison with Newcastle, however, their times were indirectly slower than that of their Blue Star counterparts. Now I know what you’re thinking, “Oooh you can’t compare times across different finals!” You’re right, you can’t, but we all do even if we don’t admit it. Therefore, we’re going to have tussle all the way down the course between the Blue Star and the Dark Blue of Oxford that the Northerners will be slight favourites in.
Cambridge University
Similar to their Dark Blue rivals, Cambridge look to be fielding a crew that formed their Lightweight Eight from the Boat Race. Having not raced more this season it’s difficult to see how their four has progressed. That being said, The Light Blues will still be bitter from their home loss to Oxford and any opportunity to get one up on the men from the Isis is not one to be passed on.
Edinburgh University
Over the years Edinburgh have produced some outstanding lightweights. Gavin Horsburgh, James Temple and Dale Flockhart to name just three on the men’s side. They have had a lot of success in the lighty double and pair at BUCS but could this be the year they succeed in the four? We’ve got very little to go off for this combination and after Edinburgh’s delayed return to the water so I think it’s unlikely they’ll challenge for the top spot. That being said if their crew is made up of athletes from the second eight that raced at Marlow they could be the surprise package in this event.
My predictions…Newcastle, Oxford, Cambridge. In that order.
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