With a draw packed with talent and credentials, it seems that the women’s championship 4x is shaping up to be one of the most competitive events of the weekend. With crews from Edinburgh, Newcastle and Durham having gone up against one another just a few weekends ago at Durham Regatta, it will be interesting to see how racing this weekend pans out with a larger range of competitors.
Reading
This Reading crew is in a very strong position. Having come third in the Women’s Championship Doubles at 2019 Pair’s Head, first in Women’s Academic Quads and third fastest crew overall at 2019 Fuller’s Head of the River Fours, first in Women’s Championship Quads at BUCS Head 2020, and second in the Women’s Doubles and Women’s Quads at 2021 Met Regatta, Rachel Heap and her crew certainly look like the ones to beat coming into this event.
Newcastle
There is relatively little information on this crew, though judging by Newcastle’s performance in the Boat Race of the North which left them with a clean sweep of wins over Durham University and success at Durham Regatta two weeks ago, I would imagine they are feeling strong coming into the race. Spencer raced in the Women’s Championship Quad at 2019 BUCS Regatta, coming in second place, and took second place in the Women’s Championship Quad at Durham Regatta, losing out on the top spot to another Newcastle crew.
Durham
Durham lost out to Newcastle in the Women’s Championship Quad at the 2021 Durham Regatta, though did win the Elite Double category at the same event. Stroke Millie Warren won Women’s J18 Double at 2018 Pairs’ Head and at Home International Regatta in 2019 won the Women’s Junior Double event. Fresh to Durham this year, it will be interesting to see how Warren shapes up in this crew given there are no further results available for Durham’s performance in the quad this season.
Nottingham
Before beginning her career rowing for Nottingham, Katie Kearsey had a formidable range of achievements at junior level. In 2018 she rowed in the Women’s Junior Quad for Wales at the Home International Regatta, came 11th in the Girl’s Championship Quad at 2019 National Schools’ Regatta and took gold in the Women’s J18 Quad at 2019 Bristol Avon Regatta. Again, it has been difficult to find results for this crew, but it certainly seems that they will be able to hold their own against tough competition.
Cambridge and Edinburgh have also entered crews though there is no information available regarding the performance of either of these so far this season. I would predict that Reading will have the edge in this event, with strong performances also by Newcastle and Durham.
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