After the removal of the lightweight eight from the programme, and the decision to make the pair an Intermediate event, the Lightweight Four has become the top event for sweep for the lightweights in the BUCS programme. The entry is the same in terms of numbers as last year with four, which is somewhat disappointing given the changes that have been made to try to attract entries to this particular event. With athletes matched for weight, it is all down to technical efficiency, and boat moving skills.
Newcastle University Boat Club
With two crews in the event, Newcastle maintains their reputation as one of the premier lightweight programmes outside of the Oxbridge crews. The A crew is the same four athletes who dominated this event last year, and who took gold at BUCS Head earlier this year. All bar one of the B crew were in the crew who took silver in the same event in February. At the Head of the River, Cambridge’s Boat Race bettered the lightweight eight that Newcastle raced, so there is a desire amongst both boats to reassert themselves as the dominant lightweight programme nationally. Both of these boats will definitely be looking to get one over on each other come Saturday as well as the other crews in this field.
Oxford University Lightweights
Runners up in this event last year, Oxford will want to go one better this year and take their revenge on Newcastle. This crew is entered under the name of Olly Featherstone, who was in the bow seat of the beaten Blue Boat earlier this year. They followed this up with third in the lightweight pennant at the Head, and performed well at the Fours Head in November, where they won the Academic Fours pennant. This shows they have good ability in the smaller boat, and this is experience they will look to bring to this much shorter distance.
Edinburgh University Boat Club
The final entry comes from Edinburgh. They were a distant third at BUCS Head so will have work to do to get at the front of the field again. As a club, Edinburgh produced a solid set of results at the Head of the River, where they were the third eight placed as the 25th University crew. This is relevant as the stroke of this crew, James Bradley, was a part of that crew. Edinburgh always produce well drilled units and have significant pedigree in terms of producing lightweight crews so it will be interesting to see if these guys can step up and challenge for the medals.
Predictions
Lightweight events tend to serve up some of the best and most intense racing that is seen across the board at the regatta. It is hard to look beyond the top Newcastle boat for the gold here, especially seeing as the crew is unchanged from last year. In terms of the positions behind them, I think it will be a fight between Oxford and the second Newcastle crew for the remaining podium places, with Edinburgh just off the pace in fourth.
BUCS Images credit: Drew Smith
Drew Smith Photography
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