There’s no dearth of talent on the Under 23 Women’s sweep side this year. With many returning internationals and several women who have come on leaps and bounds over the course of this season, we should be in for a cracking set of races this weekend.
I’m going to do a breakdown of who I think will be the combinations that are in contention for the top three finishing spots, with a finish order prediction at the end.
Earl/Powell, Cambridge University BC
This is an exciting pairing of relatively inexperienced Cambridge athletes that have made massive leaps this season. Both Carys Earl and Iris Powell were part of a winning Blondie crew in 2023, having both learned to row at their respective Cambridge colleges. This year, they made the step up to the Blue Boat, and earned a remarkable victory against a much-hyped Oxford crew. The poise and maturity of Cambridge’s row was testament to the strength of the Light Blue program, but the Boat Race was hardly a flash-in-the-pan in terms of Cambridge’s women outperforming expectations. Indeed, at February trials, Earl partnered with Blue Boat crewmate Gemma King in a scratch combination (Powell couldn’t race due to illness), and the Earl/King pair managed to come home as the third-fastest pair overall, with Earl the second-fastest Under 23 athlete on the day. King is an experienced rower and a small boats specialist, so perhaps the result wasn’t entirely unexpected, but impressive nonetheless. Earl and Powell are probably the strongest rowers out of the Cambridge Blue Boat – barring American international Megan Lee – so I fancy these two will be very quick over 2K.
Emery/Martin, Leander Club/University of London BC
Philippa Emery is an experienced Leander athlete who stroked the BW4- at Under 23s last year to a fourth-place finish. Her partner Jessica Martin also has some great pedigree; she earned a bronze in the BW4- at European Under 23s last year. Martin was the top Under 23 performer at February trials; her combination with Imperial College partner Elizabeth Witt earned a second place finish overall. Emery was a little further down the pecking order, coming home 10th overall with fellow Leander Club athlete Abigail Topp. Emery will be keen to make a better showing this weekend, and I think this pair is very capable of producing a top result.
Richards/Sumpter, Oxford Brookes University BC
This is a very strong Oxford Brookes pairing that might well be considered favourites heading into this weekend. Both Grace Richards and Rhianna Sumpter were part of the Island-winning Brookes crew at Henley last year, and the BW8+ at Under 23 Worlds that finished fourth. They’ve also got a great track record in the pair, coming home as second-fastest Under 23s at final trials last year, and fastest full Under 23 combination at February Trials this year. I think they will be tough to beat. The Brookes system produces such consistency and cohesion in a way that’s really unparalleled on the circuit, and it results in athletes that are capable of impressive, confident performances in any boat class. Watch out for this combination.
Youd/Grace, Newcastle University BC/Durham University BC
Another returning combination from February trials, Holly Youd and Anna Grace have the potential for a very strong result here. Grace is the more experienced athlete here, having represented GB in the BW8+ at Under 23 Worlds last year. Youd performed strongly at trials last year, and was recently part of Newcastle’s fast championship quad at BUCS Head. The standout result for these two, though, is their second-place full Under 23 finish at February Trials. It sets them up well for a strong performance this weekend: they’ll certainly be in the hunt for the coveted top place.
Burt/Marshall, Oxford Brookes University BC/Oxford University BC
This is a strong Oxford-based pair that is definitely one to watch. Aggie Burt has made the step up to Under 23 level admirably having been a strong junior sculler last year who ended up winning a stunning gold at Under 19 Worlds in the JW8+. Sarah Marshall learned to row at Rob Roy BC in Cambridge before joining the Dark Blues at Oxford University; she has been part of two Blue Boats, and was the five seat of the impressive Oxford eight this year that was dramatically beaten by Cambridge at the Boat Race. This pair was the third-fastest full Under 23 combination at February Trials.
Regan/Forde, Oxford Brookes University BC
As juniors, Emilia Regan and Arianna Forde would likely have rowed against each other: Regan learned to row at Tideway Scullers School, while Forde learned at Lea RC. Now at Brookes, both have become accomplished athletes, and their pair should go well here. Like Richards and Sumpter, Forde was also part of last year’s winning Island crew at Henley before representing GB in the BW8+ at Under 23 Worlds. Both Forde and Regan are now in the Brookes top VIII, and will be eyeing domestic and international success this summer. They were the forth-fastest full Under 23 pair in February, and will want to step on this weekend.
Prediction
While there are a few other good pairs entered, this is a very high quality field, and I think the top finishers will be formed from the pairs listed above. In terms of a top three, I would have to go with Richards/Sumpter in first, Emery/Martin in second, and the Cambridge pair of Earl/Powell in third.
Best of luck to all crews.
Five Man
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