This year’s Championship Women’s Singles event at BUCS will bring some of the strongest and most hotly-contested racing of the regatta. With only eight women entered, in contrast to the larger group of 15 in 2021, the fight for the six slots in the final should be fierce. Nonetheless, this year’s field features the circuits most revered names, including Olympians, Boat Racers and Henley Finalists who will ensure a speedy showcase of talent.
Imogen Grant
A name that needs no introduction. Also entered in the Championship Lightweight Single Sculls, Grant will be aiming for a double gold at this year’s regatta, which may be considered an easy feat when acknowledging her pedigree and performance already this season. Not even a month previous, Grant was stroking the triumphant Cambridge Blue boat, which won in a record time of 18 minutes and 23 seconds. This victory added a third Blue Boat win to her cabinet, which joins the current Stonor Challenge Trophy, not to mention a fourth-place from the Tokyo Olympics. Undeniably Grant comes into this weekend as the favourite.
Vwaire Obukohwo
Returning from a bronze medal last year, Obukohwo will be hungry to better that standing. She had a stellar 2021, including reaching the final of the Princess Grace Challenge Cup. She has also proved her skill in a single after a dominant performance in the Aspirational Singles at HWR in 2021 and an 11th place at Final Trials this year. I am looking forward to watching her compete with the very best in the UK.
Liv Bates
Bates, who will be racing on her home water, is a well-known name who has recently come to prominence on a national scale. She is also entered in the Championship Lightweight category, where I expect she will prove why she is the quickest U23 lightweight and second quickest U23 currently competing in the GB circuit after a gutsy performance at final trials. This success however has not been short term; Bates secured victory in the Championship Lightweight 1x at HWR last season so I expect her performance to be energetic and agile. A podium placing might await.
Christine Cavallo
I would personally pin Cavallo as the wildcard in this event, not because she is an underdog in her field, but rather we have not seen her perform solo this side of the Atlantic. The American previously raced for Stanford before moving to Oxford this academic year, where she raced in the three seat in the Blue Boat. Knowing the conditions at Nottingham, Cavallo should be equipped to handle the waves following a gold at the World Beach Sprints Championships for team USA in the Mixed Quad. Cavallo is clearly a powerful and experienced athlete who will be a strong contender to pick up some silverware.
Perri McCluskey
Representing Edinburgh, McCluskey is returning from a fourth-place in last year’s event, but has quite the record at BUCS, achieving two silvers and a gold at last year’s competition in crew categories, earning her some serious respect going into the regatta. McCluskey also reached the quarter finals of HWR in the single, an impressive feat in a strong field, as well as winning BUCS Fours and Eights head in the top Edinburgh crew. She is clearly a valued member of her team and a promising pick for the podium this year.
Other mentions
Other entrants from Molly Curry, Evelyna Davies and Grace McDonald will also bring competition. Curry will represent QBBC, returning to race in England for the first time since COVID-19 and her memorable NSR victory in 2019, where she prevailed over Lauren Henry. Further, Davies will bring strong domestic form, following two HWR victories over two events and international experience racing at the Coupe de la Jeunesse in a single scull.
Predictions
It is genuinely challenging to rank athletes in such a talented and dynamic field, so I offer Grant as the victor with Obukohwo, Bates and Cavallo as other potential medallists. However, I do so with little certainty. The nature of the single scull demands dynamics, energy and aggression, much of which comes down to a game of conscience. Undoubtedly this event will produce one of the top races of the regatta.
BUCS Images credit: Drew Smith
Drew Smith Photography
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