With a field of only eight crews from six top universities, the Women’s Championship Pair category at this year’s BUCS Regatta will foster some intense and competitive side-by-side racing. Not only do we see Oxford and Cambridge crews emerge into national competition following their respective Boat Race campaigns (where of course Cambridge were victorious by four and a half lengths), but this is equally an opportunity for trialling pairs to gain further practice racing.
Durham University BC
Without jumping too far to conclusion, I see Durham as a dominating force this weekend, both in the Women’s Championship Pairs and whole regatta as they made clear there depth of talent when winning the Victor Ludorum at BUCS Head 2022 by 173 points in front of neighbours Newcastle University.
With two boats entered into this category, Durham already boast their speed, only compounded by the recent outstanding U23 trials results where the pair of Emery and Davis won, with pair Grace and Kingston placing second in the C-final. All four athletes were members of Durham’s first eight, which placed 12th at Women’s Head of the River showing skill over both long and short course racing, both crews will be formidable opponents.
Oxford University Women’s BC & Cambridge University BC
While I cannot be sure of their partners, two Cambridge University crews have been entered under the names Armstrong and Bastian, both of whom raced in the 2023 Boat Race and were previously members of US collegiate programmes at Duke and Harvard University respectively. Outside the Blue Boat, which restricts such a large proportion of the season, I’m excited to see how the light-blues will phase in a much lighter, spritely boat class.
Similarly to Cambridge, the singular dark-blue boat has been entered under the name Aitken, who we know raced in the Boat Race this year.
Imperial College BC
Entered under the name Witt, an athlete we know has been excelling in the trialling circuit all winter, placing ninth and 13th at Boston and Caversham respectively in differing composite combinations. I suggest these athletes would have been part of the Imperial crew placing fifth in the Women’s Academic Coxless Four at Fours Head and the Senior University Eight placing 18th overall at WEHORR earlier on the season, standing out on their home water. I believe practice in the pair will favour boat speed going into this weekend, hence the Imperial crew will do well in challenging the opposition.
Prediction
I think Durham are in a strong position to potentially achieve a double podium, but equally I would not be surprised if this was imitated by the likes of Cambridge, with Edinburgh University and Nottingham University also fighting for a top spot. I genuinely could not call a victor, but rather think with such a temperamental boat class like the pair speed will be decided by who has the most experience and is best prepared and relaxed on the day. None of the eight crews are slow on paper and it will make for a thrilling event.
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