Amidst the irrepressible buzz of championship and junior events, let us not forget the mighty performances that will be shown by those hailing from the university rowing scene. This year, the Women’s Academic Coxless Four category brings a quinary of entries to the Tideway: one from Oxford University Women’s BC, one from local rivals Oxford Brookes University, and the remaining three supplied by Imperial College London. With varying degrees of experience spread across all of these crews, the door is open for anyone to claim victory.
Oxford University Women
No doubt looking to replicate their success of winning this category at Upper Thames Autumn Head last month, where they also came away with the accolade of fastest women’s coxless four of the day, this OUWBC crew will take to the Tideway with the wind beneath their wings. These women likely know the pressure that comes with representing such a historically dominant women’s squad, particularly in sweep. Nevertheless, I am confident that they will understand the assignment and, in turn, come away with the pennant.
Imperial College London
A boat club that has recently affirmed its status as an up-and-coming success story in the academic rowing circuit, these three crews from Imperial College London are no strangers to the turbulent Tideway. The Imperial women’s squad demonstrated particular success last season, as their top coxless four culminated a successful summer with an impressive win at Henley Women’s Regatta over usual favourites University of London. With this in mind, I am very intrigued to see whether one of the Imperial trio pooled in this category will put in a wild card performance and rise to the challenge of knocking OUWBC off the top spot – watch this space.
Oxford Brookes University
It wouldn’t be an academic sweep category on the Tideway without our friends in burgundy. A dominant side throughout the university rowing calendar, Brookes are known for their consistency at the national level, testament to a first-rate high-performance coaching programme that continues to deliver top class athletes. As with OUWBC, this Brookes coxless four will undoubtedly carry their club’s legacy on their shoulders and all the way down the course. Will it be enough to see them over the line ahead of their local rivals in dark blue? I can’t wait to find out.
Predictions
With such an exclusive number of entries, this category really is anyone’s for the taking. That being said, based on current stats so far this season, I’d put it to OUWBC to get the job done and come away with the win. However, anything is possible on the Tideway, so a shift by either Brookes or Imperial’s ‘A’ boat might just be enough to pip the dark blue ladies to the post. At such an early stage of the university rowing season, no matter who comes out on top, Fours Head is certainly the perfect platform for these women to gain some necessary early-season competitive exposure, and perhaps lay the groundwork for their 2021-2022 BUCS campaigns.
About The Author
