As one of the events on day three of the regatta, the women’s intermediate pairs will have a mix of those prioritising the event and those who will have already raced on the previous days. Fresh legs may prove to be an advantage, although with 100% substitutions possible, anything could happen and everything is still to play for.
University of Nottingham
At BUCS Regatta last year Nottingham won this event but with limited small boats racing this season so far, it is impossible to tell if they will dominate again. However, with only one boat entered in this category, they may be placing more emphasis on training this shell so are still worth a watch.
Cambridge University
Cambridge placed second, third, ninth and 17th in this event last year. The university squad have used this as an opportunity to transition into small boats after the Boat Race in the past and may be doing the same again this year. With only two crews entered, they will be hard to pushed to find the same plurality in 2024.
University of Bristol
Next on the medal table at BUCS Regatta last year was Bristol in fourth place. Their 2024 has paled a little in the face of a stellar 2023 and so they will be approaching this weekend’s racing with redemption and restoration in mind.
Durham University
Rounding off the top-five in the 2023 edition of this category was Durham. Their impressive performances at both BUCS Regatta last year and BUCS Head in February further confirm the strength and depth of their current squad. The incumbent athletes will be aiming to produce another set of impressive results across the board, including in this event.
Newcastle University
Heating up the northern rivalry, Newcastle placed sixth in this event last year and will want to secure a spot in the A-final yet again to challenge the likes of Durham and Edinburgh. It is very possible that one, maybe two, of the four pairs they have entered will be fighting for a spot on the medal table.
Notable Mentions
Comprising a section of the B-final last year, Surrey, Glasgow, and Oxford have shown they can produce a good result when needed, however all have also fared well in bigger boats this season too. It is yet to be seen how training priority has been established between this event and others they may be racing earlier in the weekend, but all contenders have a shot at the major finals yet again.
Finally, Exeter, Birmingham, London, and Edinburgh all have entries that should not be ignored. With some notable performances so far this season, these crews could be considered the underdogs, and I would not be surprised to see appearances from them in the top 18. From a field of 45, this would be a very impressive start to the season.
Prediction
Ultimately, the likely medallists in this event will be from squads already tracking well in 2024, with athletes from top boats potentially racing this event. As a result, I expect some close racing between the likes of Nottingham, Cambridge, Durham and Newcastle. With a few unexpected squads already showing form, and no room to hide in a pair, I will be looking at some of the notable mentions to fill the places in the major finals and even challenge for the top spots as crews look to make a mark at the start of the summer season.
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