Summer. Starts. Now.
A blockbuster season of racing can finally begin, as BUCS Regatta heralds the opening act of a quarter packed full of rowing. Not only are the Olympics looming into view at the elite end of our sport but the competition across the board – from juniors to masters – has arguably never been stronger. The championship coxed fours category, so often a reflection of the big, bad programs who dominate the eights alongside a few specialist bow-loaded boat-movers, should provide compelling insight into the docket we can expect at Henley Women’s Regatta in just under two months’ time.
University of Cambridge
Following their Boat Race win, CUBC’s blue boat athletes are out in force in small boats this BUCS regatta, as well as racing the Championship 8+. This crew sees Carina Graf, Clare Hole, Jo Matthews, and Megan Lee – as well as cox Hannah Murphy – take to the coxed four in an attempt to build on last year’s silver medal. There’s plenty of international experience in this boat and we’ve already seen how they can perform under pressure, but I look forward to seeing how they fare over 2k and would imagine them to be the most likely crew to challenge the likes of Oxford Brookes.
Durham University
Durham took the win in the event at BUCS Regatta in 2023, and will be looking to retain their title against the unstoppable force of Oxford Brookes. Anna Grace is the only member of that winning crew to return this year, but all four have international experience. DUBC fresher Isadora Kennedy picked up a bronze medal at Junior Europeans last year, while Megan Hadfield‘s extensive Shiplake career and Daisy Jackson‘s feature in the DUBC 1V in the HRR semi-finals bring the kind of experience that Durham will need to take them to a medal this weekend.
University of Edinburgh
Josephine Briggs and Grace Dawson bring extensive experience of racing coxed fours, having won the Development Fours at HWR in 2023. Both have been rowing for less than two years, but have also raced at GB Trials, and bring unrivaled racing experience to this crew. Isla MacCallum also brings a GB vest from the coastal rowing scene to this crew, and along with Olivia Schmidt, I’m excited to see how this crew fare among their championship peers.
University of London
UL took bronze in this event in 2023, and with a completely fresh crew here, they’ll sure be looking to improve on last year’s result. Daisy Faithfull is no stranger to BUCS medals, having taken gold in the Intermediate Quads with Bath last year, and Grace Newport-Tucker winning bronze in the Intermediate Eights at BUCS Head with Liverpool. Combined with former University of Texas Varsity rower Susanna Cassidy and experienced UL feature Georgie Banton, this crew will certainly be ones to watch.
Newcastle University
Newcastle University are always one to put in a strong performance at BUCS, and its exciting to see them appear in this Championship category this year. There’s plenty of experience in this young crew, with Aoife Chapman being a former British Record holder on the erg, and Megan Johnston boasting a successful junior career including a HWR win and U19 Worlds Silver medal. Combined with the experience of Mary O’Donnell and Scarlette Rijske, I hope that the Blue Star can hold their own in this tough category.
Oxford Brookes University
It may come as a surprise to some that Brookes have entered this category given their absence from it in recent years, but they’ll undoubtedly have their sites set on dominating it in 2024. This appears to be four of their top athletes: Arianna Forde, Grace Richards, Aggie Burt, and Olivia Hill – coxed by Bea Argyle. The fact that all four of these athletes appeared in the A Final of the Women’s Pairs at final trials recently speaks volumes to the quality of the rowing that we’re likely to see this weekend, and I fully expect them to take the win in the coxed four.
Prediction
Unsurprisingly, I imagine that Oxford Brookes will take the gold, but I think it’ll be a close fight for the remaining medals between UL, Cambridge and Durham. Ultimately I think Cambridge will take the silver and Durham the bronze, but I look forward to this being an exciting race.
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