Lightweight rowing can be one of the most exciting races to watch, with the weight limits meaning the crews are often more equally matched than in some of the open weight events. Given the removal of almost all Olympic lightweight racing, BUCS Regatta is one of the few events that draws the top lightweight rowers domestically, making for a highly competitive field of athletes. This year, the championship and intermediate categories will be combined to race in a single event, so it will be interesting to see how this plays out over the weekend.
Men’s Championship Lightweight Singles
With only three entries and only one returner from the A-final last year, there is no obvious favourite in this field. Jack Norton, representing Bath University, makes the step up to the championship standard after winning the inter lightweight singles last year at BUCS regatta. Nottingham University’s Lucas Salmon will provide some stiff competition, winning silver at BUCS head in the inter lightweight quads and also representing Peru at the first rowing world cup in Varese, placing sixth. Salmon also competed in this event last year, and came in sixth. However, the toughest challenge may come from Queens University Belfast’s Ciaran Purdy, who attained international honours for Ireland last year at the u23 world championships in the lightweight double. Purdy also was in the Queens Belfast crew who came second to Reading University in the open weight champ quads. My predictions are for Purdy to take home gold, with Salmon taking the silver ahead of Norton in third.
Men’s Intermediate Lightweight Singles
With 43 entries, the intermediate singles event should be a highly competitive race, so the field is wide open for anyone to win. Reading University are always at the top end of sculling events, and they have a trio of scullers entered. Joseph Bates, Dan Oakley and Will Liddiard will all be ones to watch, with Bates and Oakley winning the inter lightweight quads at BUCS Head 2024 by almost 30 seconds. Aberdeen University’s Campbell Wheeler won the B-final last year in this event, so he will be gunning to gain a place in the A-final this year. Felix Reynish from Strathclyde University narrowly missed out on a podium finish last year, placing fourth in the A-final in this category and I’m sure he’s been focussed on finding that extra speed during training this season. Oliver Robertson from Harper Adams University will also want to improve on his ninth place finish last year. Other notable scullers include the Queens University Belfast duo of Benedict Weis and Adam McKinley, and Nottingham University’s David Watson. These three athletes all won medals at BUCS head in their respective lightweight quads and should be competitive within the A and B finals. My bet is on one of the Reading University trio to be up there in the medal contention.
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