The ultimate gladiatorial test-match. Single scullers fighting it out for a shot at the title of fastest student athlete in the country. Let the games begin…
University of Bath
Although heading to her very first BUCS this year, Ella Fullman will be looking to make a name for herself on the university stage. Following a vastly successful junior career, Fullman now trains under Dan Harris & Tom Selby in Bath, who will be looking to have their athletes follow in the footsteps of last year’s BUCS success. Fullman also put in a stellar performance at final trials recently, despite being one of the youngest competitors there, finishing in a respectable 16th place. I’m excited to see how she might perform in this well-stacked category.
University of Birmingham
As Birmingham’s flagship athlete, Katie Mole is making a return to the BUCS stage to defend – and hopefully improve on – her bronze medal from this event in 2023. Another sculler fresh from final trials, Mole finished an impressive third behind two other senior athletes. Having recently made the move to Leander, I hope to see Mole improve on her result from last year and look to chase the likes of Liv Bates for pole position. Between Bates and Mole, I think there could be some really exciting racing and I expect to see Birmingham in the medals for this event.
University of Cambridge
Having raced in this year’s women’s Blue Boat, Gemma King is returning to two blades for regatta season. A successful sculler in her own right, King took silver in the championship lightweight singles at BUCS in 2023, and with another Boat Race win under her belt, she will look to dominate the open-weight category in 2024. It’ll be interesting to see how she fares here, but I expect that we’ll be seeing her attempt to chase down the likes of Katie Mole and Liv Bates. Although we haven’t seen King race the single yet this season, unlike some of the other athletes here, I think we’ll still be hearing her name on the towpath as a potential for the medals.
Durham University
Durham have two very strong entries in this event, in the form of Izzy Sellers and Anna Grace, both of whom will no doubt be looking to make the medals. Sellers took home a medal of each colour at last years regatta; bronze in the championship lightweight singles, silver in the championship doubles with Grace and gold in the championship lightweight doubles. Similarly, Anna Grace has had a vastly successful BUCS career to date and also raced at final trials in April, finishing fourth in the pair with Holly Youd. These two are both excellent scullers and well-versed in the BUCS racing format, which I’m sure will work in their favour given Nottingham’s unpredictable conditions.
Edinburgh University
Hannah Supple will be repping the baby blue at the weekend and is another athlete who will be hoping to improve on her performance from last year’s BUCS. Having placed fourth in 2023, and recently 17th at final trials, it could be a tough ask to see her make the medals this time around in such a competitive field. However, with plenty of racing experience – especially at BUCS – behind her, I hope to see her put in a gutsy time trial and challenge some of the bigger names. Supple took home a bronze medal in the championship double last year, and I hope to see her channel this into racing the single this weekend.
University of Nottingham
The talk of this event will most likely be an appearance from Olivia Bates, who has recently returned from the European Championships – having been called up to race the lightweight double with Imogen Grant after Emily Craig withdrew. Bates is coming to defend her title from last year, having also won gold in the championship lightweight singles, and has since also picked up a gold from World Cup I. Having progressed through the ranks at GBRT, I doubt that there’ll be a huge amount of pressure put on Bates here, but I’m excited to see how she approaches this race nonetheless.
Reading University
The quality of sculling produced at Reading is notorious, especially when on full display at events like BUCS, and Ellie Cooke will be hoping to medal in this event I’m sure. She missed out in 2023, placing fifth, but took gold in the championship double with teammate Fionnula Stratton. Yet another athlete who has recently raced at final trials, Cooke came away in an impressive fourth place, and I hope to see her improve on her race here last year and leave Holme Pierrepont with a well-deserved medal.
Predictions
It’s hard to overlook Olivia Bates when it comes to predicting a winner in this event. Similarly, Katie Mole has stepped on significantly since training with Leander, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see her take the silver, and either Ellie Cooke or Gemma King the bronze. This is an exceptional field featuring some of the best young British scullers, and it should make for some exciting (and fast!) racing.
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