Championship events at all competitions show elite level rowing, and BUCS is no exception. The coxless four is a precarious beast to master; nimble amongst the lanes but slippy on the feat when steered without concentration. At Henley Women’s + Royal Regattas, these categories always provide entertainment a’plenty and although the six-bouyed lanes of Holme Pierrepont probably don’t cater for the same level of drama, we can expect an intriguing combination of technical mastery and agility.
Oxford Brookes University Boat Club
Oxford Brookes University Boat Club are the defending title holders, and also managed to claim a phenomenal 1-2 in last year’s regatta. Due to Brookes being an open club, many of their athletes are restricted from BUCS races, however this has never stopped the silverware gravy train from collecting every podium place in sight under the reign of Henry Baillache-Webb. With five crews – including an ‘A’ boat featuring Ed Lemanowicz, Jack Cooper, Richard Hawes and Toby Lassen – it would not be unfathomable for Brookes to collect multiple medals in a category that have a habit of punctuating.
Cambridge University Boat Club
Following Cambridge University Boat Club’s successful run at The Boat Race, Rob Baker is sending some of his eligible athletes to compete on the national circuit. With Matthew Edge, who stroked the Blue Boat, Seb Benzecry, 2024 President, and French national athlete Noam Mouelle all slated to feature, we can expect high quality, and a run for medals from this crew. It’s been rumoured – on our podcast no less – that Cambridge will be making a real run at Henley Royal Regatta in 2024. This could be the start of a training block intended to crown what is already a magnificent season with some sparkling summer silverware.
Edinburgh University Boat Club
The Scottish titans have no lack of squad depth or technical ability and will be excited to show that at the National Watersports Centre. Beating their Northern rivals from Newcastle University Boat Club and Durham University Boat Club time will be at the front of their mind and they are bringing two crews to bear in an attempt to establish an A-final berth.
University of London Boat Club
University of London Boat Club is renowned for being the standard for university rowing on the Tideway and will be making the trip up to the midlands to show the rest of the country why they are considered so. After a second-placed finish in university eights at the Head of the River race, there is a little bit of noise that UL might be finding their footing just when it matters. After a disappointing BUCS and Henley Royal Regatta in 2023, the focus is fierce amongst these purple-clad athletes.
Newcastle University Boat Club
A club with a distinct style, as favoured by the likes of Angelino Savarino, are re-emerging onto the heavyweight scene in 2024. Newcastle have built a program that quickens throughout the season, peaking hard for Henley, so we can expect some significant speed to have been gained since head season came to a close in March. This boat is likely to feature Gwilym Johnson (who won gold in both intermediate coxed fours and eights at BUCS Head), Ed Ridley (another intermediate eight gold medalist in February), Tom Brumwell (a silver in championship eights and gold in championship coxless fours at BUCS Head) and James Purves-Liddelle (a coastal world bronze medalist and a crew-mate of Brumwell in both the eight and four at BUCS Head).
Durham University
Rob Dauncey’s Durham have re-established themselves as contenders after a few years in the wilderness. Although they have failed to scale the lofty heights reached in Dauncey’s first season in charge – where they made the semi-final of the Temple Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta – they’re still a boat club to be feared and will want to take a scalp or two this weekend.
Nottingham University
It’s pleasing to see Nottingham’s name frequenting the business end of our previews with increasing regularity. This crew is slated to feature Lucas Salmon Hernandez, who represented Great Britain at the European Universities Rowing Championships in September, finishing eighth in the men’s lightweight double.
Predictions
I can comfortably say that Brookes 1 and 2 are the favourites to take home gold and silver, with Cambridge battling UL to finish with bronze. I would however expect some very tight and exciting racing towards the back of the pack between EUBC and NUBC.
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