With more than 65 entries from over 35 different institutions, the Women’s Intermediate Coxed Fours is the biggest event on the schedule at this year’s BUCS Regatta. The majority of clubs entering multiple crews, some as many as five, speaks to the depths of squad talent populating this category and promises tough racing ahead for these athletes.
Cambridge University Boat Club
With three of the athletes in their top-ranked boat having raced in Blondie just a month ago, this is likely to be a fast crew with a point to prove. The Cambridge women’s reserve crew were the only Light Blue boat to lose out on Boat Race day so their outfit will have redemption in their minds as they approach the starting line on Monday. It’s hard to write off Cambridge, who always seem to come up trumps at BUCS Regatta.
University of Surrey Boat Club
Starting strong, the crew from University of Surrey Boat Club have had a great season leading up to this regatta, including a gold medal in this category at the recent BUCS Head for the second year in a row. With an almost-identical crew, Nell Papworth replaces Elsie Overend to join El Stratton, Ellen Green and Elysia Rushworth and cox Ella Collins, who are set to be favourites in this event. In addition to their success at BUCS Head earlier this year, Stratton, Green and Rushworth were also Henley Women’s Regatta semi-finalists in the Aspirational Academic Eights for the Colgan Foundation Cup last season. Despite a strong performance against eventual winners Oxford Brookes University, the crew were knocked out by a length at the line, a result they will be hungry to overturn this time around. Though we haven’t seen much shorter-distance racing from this crew yet, if the rest of their season is anything to go by, then Surrey University are certainly ones to watch.
Edinburgh University Boat Club
Despite just missing out on the medals in this event at BUCS Head earlier this year, the club produced two incredible performances at the Women’s Eights Head of the River. Charlotte Glasby, Freya Hughson and Olivia Burns were part of the club’s B-crew who finished an impressive sixth-fastest of the university crews and 16th overall, just behind their teammates in the A-crew, which included Beatrice Beever and cox Nickelby Simmonds. These five make up the first of Edinburgh University’s fours in this event and if this crew can translate their performances to the shorter distance setting, they could be in the running for a respectable finish placement in the final. With three crews representing them, there are plenty of opportunities to push into the podium positions.
Glasgow University Boat Club
Putting two crews forth is Glasgow University, whose recent performances have shown real promise, including achieving their second-best performance in the history of their involvement at Women’s Eights Head of the River. Their A-crew, in particular, is shaping up as a force to be reckoned with. The provisional line-up contains three silver medalists from this event at BUCS Head as well as a not-so-secret weapon in Laura Mckenzie. Mckenzie has been making waves – no pun intended – across the coastal rowing circuit throughout the year, amassing an impressive collection of silverware along the way. Most recently she returned from the International Coastal Rowing Beach Sprints Competition in Cyprus with not one but two silver medals, in the single and mixed doubles events. This follows a string of podium-worthy races including a Commonwealth Beach Sprints gold as well as a spot in the final at Henley Royal Regatta representing Leander in the Wargrave Cup event, to name a few. Mckenzie joins her fellow BUCS Head runners-up Gemma Collins and Kirsty McRobb, as well as Jessica O’Dell who has since been promoted from the B-crew.
University of Bristol Boat Club & Manchester University Boat Club
While it would be impossible to talk through each of the other crews, some honorable mentions include Manchester University Boat Club’s A-crew which includes two of last year’s Beginner Coxed Four bronze medalists. It will be exciting to see how Ella Kippax and Grace Brown handle the step up to Intermediate level and if this season’s training is enough to push them into the medals again. In addition, University of Bristol Boat Club’s A- and B-crews have two of last year’s silver medal winners in each, with Efa Wilson and Lara Grant returning to the A-crew to join Emily Bernhem, Idira Ogunbiyi and Phyllis Chan. In the B-crew, last year’s runners up Maisie Barnes and cox Amelia Hobbs are teaming up with Beth Taylor, Eleanor Harkin and Josie Sawbridge. With three crews entered and plenty of experience across the board, Bristol University will be keen to stay in contention for the medals in 2024.
Predictions
It is obvious there is no shortage of talent in this category, with usual suspects Cambridge University, Newcastle University and Oxford Brookes University likely to be amongst the high performers. However, given the crew’s performance record amongst university crews at both BUCS Head and Henley Women’s Regatta, Surrey University are in a strong position to take home the gold. Despite a lack of regatta results to go off, the club clearly has a highly effective programme taking place, allowing me to confidently identify them as the top contenders.
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