BUCS Regatta often sees a sizeable entry list for the women’s intermediate single, and this year is no exception. This year, the Women’s Intermediate Single category is being run on the Sunday of the event. The athletes will start by completing a 1500m time trial, before being placed into A/B semi-finals to progress to finals, or straight into minor finals. With a monumental 50 confirmed entries, this promises to be a category replete with sculling talent.
Reading University BC
Reading has a well-established sculling programme on the circuit, and often performs incredibly well over regatta season. Due to their high number of performance athletes, it’s not unusual for the ones entered into intermediate categories to also be of high calibre. With three entries supplied here, I wouldn’t be surprised to see at least one make the A final. Finnola Stratton place fifth in this very event last year and is racing again, so she could be on the favourites list going into the weekend and will no-doubt be hungry for a medal.
Bath University BC
Last year, we saw Phoebe Hayden put in a strong performance and come away silver in this event for Bath. With this in mind, I’m intrigued to see if her two successors in this category – Rebekah Court and Daisy Faithfull – could repeat or even one-up Hayden’s performance. Bath are building a strong sculling programme, so another A final or podium finish is certainly achievable.
University of Nottingham BC
Last year, Poppy Baker took fourth in the A final for Nottingham. Back again this year to have another crack, Baker will be wanting to improve on this to take one of the medals up for grabs. Baker is part of the Start Rowing Team in Nottingham and benefits from the home advantage. I can’t wait to see if this pays dividends.
Queen’s University Belfast BC
Queen’s always bring strong entries into the sculling categories at BUCS Regatta and beyond. With a number of athletes from this club making it into the Irish national team every year, there is clearly a universal determination trickling down into the club’s ethos. I have no doubt that this will translate into a club-wide aim to bring as many BUCS medals as possible back to their home turf, and the two scullers entered here – Frances Curtis and Clara McClements – will surely give it everything to make that happen.
Prediction
Overall, this year’s Women’s Intermediate Single medals are in extremely high demand, with many other standout scullers on the roster beyond the ones mentioned above. My personal predictions for the top three are Reading, Bath, and Nottingham, based on the track record of their scullers across the board. However, there will be plenty of dark horses in this category and it’s not over til it’s over – good luck ladies!
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