Provided the entries are strong this can be one of the most exciting events at BUCS Regatta, with tenacious lightweights pitted against one another with broadly the same level of power it comes down to who has the biggest heart and can push the hardest.
Last year this event was dominated by scullers from Cambridge University and this year looks to be no different.
Imogen Grant
No beating around the bush here, Grant will win this event.
It’s slightly surprising to see her entered, having competed and indeed won at BUCS in years gone by I would have thought she would be taking some well earned rest after the huge high of the Boat Race. However, Grant is a keen racer and it is great to see an athlete of her calibre coming to BUCS to show students all around how it’s really done.
Gemma King
Also fresh from a win against Oxford but this time in the Lightweight Boat Races, Gemma King is no stranger to BUCS having picked up a range of medals last year including a silver in this event. With a stacked field this year however, she will be hard pressed to repeat that result this year with the gold all but sealed by Grant.
Olivia Bates
Representing Nottingham University, Olivia Bates is the current holder of this event, winning by a handy four seconds over Gemma King at BUCS Regatta 2021. Bates has been on impressive form since then, winning the Championship Lightweight Single event at Henley Women’s Regatta, competing for Great Britain at the European Rowing U23 Championships in the single and performing very well at GB trials this season. At the recent final trials, she placed third in the B final in the combined women’s single event, among some strong heavyweight athletes and placing second fastest lightweight (albeit in the absence of Imogen Grant and Emily Craig).
Lauren Maddison
Hailing from the stronghold of sculling that is Reading University, Maddison too has had a strong year or so. She took gold in the Women’s Intermediate Lightweight Single at BUCS Regatta 2021 before winning the Championship Lightweight Double event with Chloe Knight at Henley Women’s. She too has been performing well at GB trials this season, winning the C final of the women’s single at the recent trials making her the fourth fastest lightweight on the day and second fastest U23.
Prediction
I’m genuinely excited to see what happens in this event, not so much because the win is in question – it isn’t – but because it’s not clear how things will pan out behind. With twelve entries this year the six who reach the A final will all be of a high calibre, from there some tight racing should ensue.
My prediction: first place will be Imogen Grant, second Olivia Bates, third Gemma King.
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