As the country’s top student-athletes gear up for the upcoming BUCS Regatta at Holme Pierrepont, final preparations are in full swing. With last year’s event seeing the top four crews separated by a mere two and a half seconds, anticipation is high for another round of thrilling races.
Cambridge University Boat Club
Following their Boat Race triumph, Cambridge University Boat Club (CUBC) is heading to the National Water Sports Centre with their eyes on regaining their 2022 women’s Victor Ludorum title. CUBC enjoy the advantage of returning to this event as the defending champions.
Day one of the regatta is set to be a busy day for Megan Lee and Gemma King, who are doubling up to race the championship quad and the pair. This is unlikely to faze either of them with Lee’s U23 gold medal pedigree and King’s England rowing team experience. Joining them are Annabel Stevens, a previous BUCS championship single gold medallist and Henley Royal Regatta Princess Royal qualifier, along with Carina Graf, a BUCS championship pair bronze medallist. This formidable crew pose a significant challenge for the rest of the field that will be hard to overturn.
Reading University Boat Club
Reading University Boat Club (RUBC) presents another impressive line-up. After missing out on winning last year by just over one second, RUBC will be hungry for the championship title. Ellie Cooke, a returning member of last year’s silver medal-winning crew, brings valuable international experience to the team. Last season, she earned a seat in this boat class for the U23 World and European Championships. Most recently, she came away from final trials as the fastest British U23 single sculler. Alongside her are Zara Povey, ranked as the fourth-fastest British U23 sculler, and Izzy Lancaster, a competitor at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals for Great Britain.
Durham University Boat Club
Like the CUBC contingent, Durham University Boat Club (DUBC) has its eyes on coveted BUCS points and has athletes doubling up to race in the championship pair. This crew appears to be very similar to last year’s group of athletes who were just over a second shy of medalling.
Izzy Sellers returns to this crew following her win in the Haslam trophy at Henley Women’s Regatta last season, she also brings valuable international racing experience to this crew having earned a spot in the lightweight double at last season’s U23 World Championships. Anna Grace will also be coming into the regatta after a successful final trial, where she came away as the third U23 pair.
Newcastle University Boat Club
Last year’s bronze medallists, Newcastle University Boat Club (NUBC), are returning to the regatta this year with a crew stacked with U23 talent. Rachel Bradley has most recently come away from final trials as the third-ranked U23 single sculler. Bradley will also be familiar with her competitors as she raced with Cooke in last year’s U23 quad. She is joined by Holly Youd and Harriet Taylor, the third and sixth U23 pairs respectively.
Bath University Boat Club
Having not raced in the women’s championship quads last year, it is exciting to see Bath University Boat Club set to join the category. This sculling super centre is responsible for the development of incredible talent within the British Rowing circuit. The fifth fastest U23 British sculler, Ella Fullman, has a seat in this crew along with Rebekah Court, who raced with Gemma King in the quad for England at the Home International Rowing Regatta last season.
Edinburgh University Boat Club
The Edinburgh University Boat Club (EUBC) women’s squad is becoming more and more of a force to be reckoned with. This crew will have their eyes on improving upon last year’s performance in this event’s final.
After a tough season dealing with illness and injury, Hannah Supple will be eager to lay down a good racing performance. Even after enduring a difficult season, Supple has still come away from final trials as the sixth fastest U23 sculler. She is joined by the exceptional home-grown talent that is Grace Dawson. Dawson is a product of the powerhouse EUBC development programme and was part of last year’s winning Henley Women’s Regatta Frank V Harry Cup crew.
Predictions
Each crew in this category is stacked with talent, but I think Cambridge University Boat Club will retain their championship title. This year has proven that the squad is stronger than ever. The fight for silver looks to be closely fought between Reading University Boat Club and Newcastle University Boat Club.
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