This weekend’s event allows a mixture of club and university crews to take the water for the last time ahead of the Head of the River Race. A mixed field, it’s difficult to predict the outcome for this race given that it’s the first time that a lot of the boats will have faced one another. What it does highlight, however, is the strength of provincial rowing as most of the crews aren’t based upon the Thames. It’ll be interesting to see how home water might have an influence upon the result.
Cantabrigian RC
Having been one of the highest-performing provincial clubs for a number of years, it goes without saying that Cantabrigian RC should be firm contenders in any race that they take part in. So often close to one another, it’s likely that their rivalry with City of Cambridge will once more be reignited as the crews take to the tideway. Cantabrigian are, historically, the stronger of the two clubs with a large amount of success in recent years both in Bumps and National events such as Henley Royal Regatta and the Head of the River Race.
City of Cambridge
Seems only appropriate we mention the winners of Intermediate 2 eights at Quintin Head, even if it was as part of a composite. CoC are one of three strong Cambridge clubs and will be eyeing a local scalp or two during their upcoming Tideway tussle. Driven on by our good friends at Filippi, they’ll be looking to place highly again and perhaps take home a second pennant of the season.
Vesta Rowing Club
Perennial challengers at the business end of club racing, on both the men’s and women’s side, Vesta are a crew not to be underestimated. It’s always unclear exactly what their relative strength is in any given season; a lot of the Tideway talent has been hoovered up by the Dyson-esque pull of Thames and London but Vesta still punch well above their weight.
Lea RC
Lea are a club who consistently fly under the radar. Competing against bigger programs, they always seem to qualify strong crews who compete at the highest of levels. Whilst I don’t believe that they can overcome the aforementioned crews, they deserve a mention on the merits of what they have previously achieved and that which they might bring about in the near future.
Prediction
Imperial College BC should have too much for their competition on Sunday. Rowing on home water, and well at that, anyone who wishes to challenge them will have to perform above and beyond the levels they have so far achieved. Cantabrigian and their fellow rivals City of Cambridge will push them close but, unfortunately, come up short.
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