In the Women’s Championship Lightweight Single there are typically two groups of athletes competing. There’s those who are taking part in GB trials who normally lead the field, and those who have entered this event to try and sneak a medal but aren’t of the same calibre. With a decline in the popularity of lightweight rowing in recent years the former group is all but gone, giving that next group a chance to shine.
Reading
Reading University’s Chloe Knight will be a forerunner in this event, a top contender in 2019’s Regatta, she will only have improved in the last two years. She is a multiple medal winner at BUCS events and has a huge amount of experience behind her including international representation. With a partner from Reading Chloe made the A final of Women’s Doubles won the Women’s Lightweight Double at Met Regatta, showing she definitely has some pace this season.
Hartpury
From the GB Start centre at Hartpury, Bryony Lawrence has been around the circuit for a while and will be looking for a good result in the single. She won the C final of Women’s Singles on the Sunday of Met Regatta and will be looking to build on that this week.
Nottingham
Interestingly, Nottingham University have entered two scullers in this event, clearly confident in the form of their lightweight women. Having not raced much this season it’s difficult to gauge the speed of these scullers but it’s entirely possible that the faster of the two could challenge the front of the field.
Cambridge
Gemma King, fresh from victory with Blondie in the Reserve Boat Races, will compete in the lightweight single with her twin Catherine in the intermediate event. Gemma came third in the B final at Met Regatta with her sister one place behind Bryony Lawrence in the C final.
Athletes from Oxford Brookes, Loughborough, and St Andrews make up the field in the event, although it seems unlikely that any of these will be in contention for the top spots. My picks for the top tree: Chloe Knight (Reading) to win, Gemma King (Cambridge) second, Aerin Thompson (Nottingham) third.
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