As lightweight rowing continues to shrink, it’s heartening to see a competitive entry in the intermediate lightweight women’s pair. One of the few chances these women have to compete in such an event, and in the absence of fewer lightweight events each year (the women’s lightweight quad has now been scrapped due to too few entries), this looks to be an intriguing race. Last year’s winners and silver medallists Durham have no entries this year so it appears to be a face off between Cambridge and Surrey. These are two clubs with a history of honours in lightweight events, but as always on a weekend such as BUCS there is always room for a surprise.
Cambridge University Boat Club
Two Cambridge pairs are entered and these look to be well matched, making for an exciting head to head. The first features Georgia Gollogly and Katy Hempson. Gollogly was victorious in the Lightweight Boat Race just weeks ago, whilst Katy Hempson was the seven seat in the Blondie crew. Cambridge women’s lightweight president Lauren Britten and teammate Madeline Jackson are in the second crew, both were victorious alongside Gollogly in the lightweight boat race, having also won in 2023. On paper it looks to be Gollogly’s crew that is the stronger, however pairs racing can often be unpredictable and if Britten and Jackson are the better matched pairing they could triumph.
Surrey University Boat Club
Surrey have also entered two pairs into this event. The first crew features Freya Spurling and Sacha Kennedy, whilst the other is made up of Georgina Dunsmore and Madeline Egan. These again look to be two well matched crews. All four won gold in the championship lightweight coxless four at BUCS Head and will be aiming to do the same this weekend. Splitting the crew up provides extra intrigue as to who matches up best with who. Egan is the least experienced of the foursome, having been a beginner last year, but already has a bucket load of BUCS golds, so watch out for this up and comer. Kennedy and Spurling, have multiple BUCS lightweight medals to their name, and will hope to add more this weekend.
Queen’s University Belfast Boat Club
Aoife McComb and Sophie Smyth team up in this pair. Smyth has experience in this event, placing sixth last year. She was also part of the lightweight four that placed second to Surrey at BUCS Head in February. As is often the case with the crews from Queen’s, due to their lack of attendance at other events on the mainland, the speed of this pair is yet to be seen. But having recently returned from training camp in Banyoles and with their club-wide success in the past years including in lightweight categories, no doubt they will be hopeful the hard miles and clearly excellent programme will put them in good stead this weekend.
Newcastle University Boat Club
Not known for its lightweight crews, Newcastle is a surprise entry into this event. The pairing of Evie-Leavesley-Richards and Skye Lee has little experience, but is exciting nonetheless. It will be interesting to see how they fare against this field of more established lightweight programmes but as anyone who has lined up against a Blue Star crew will know, they will be strong and determined competitors.
Predictions
This certainly looks to be a Cambridge versus Surrey face off. I expect both sets of crews to make up the top four. Depending on how much time Cambridge have had since the Boat Race in these line ups, Gollogly and Hempson may take top spot, followed by a tight contest between Kennedy and Spurling and Britten and Jackson. Lightweight racing is almost always tight margins and these positions could be interchangeable. It’s certainly an exciting and unpredictable event.
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