Reviews
Oxford Brookes University ‘B’ v Cambridge University
With the might of Oxford Brookes, even their ‘B’ crews are a chilling found name in any draw, but they came up against a stern test in the form of the Cambridge University crew which bore a striking resemblance to the blue boat that reigned supreme on the Tideway in March, keeping 7 athletes from the victorious combination. Off the Island, it was Cambridge who had the advantage, stretching out to three quarters of a length’s lead by the quarter-mile. Not to be outclassed, the Brookes boat went to strike back, finding a quarter of a length margin at the Fawley marker. In the second half of the race, it was the experience of the longer Boat Race season that served the light blues well, with their matching scrunchies surging into the lead, crowds rushed to the bank to watch Cambridge seal victory by half a length.
ASR Nereus v Newcastle University
Regularly making the trip across the North Sea, ASR Nereus have gained an aura over a number of British crews, on their only trip in the short history of this event they made it to Friday before falling to the eventual champions. In their first race of this year’s campaign they faced a tough challenge from Newcastle but all expectations were that they would come out on top, or at very least have a competitive outing. When the race played out, it was anything but as expected. Newcastle jumped out to an early lead, having the best part of a length by a quarter of a mile and were three lengths up at Fawley Meadow when they settled down and held their margin to the line in a real statement of intent for the remainder of the field.
Edinburgh University ‘B’ vs Skøll
After rowing through Iowa yesterday, Edinburgh ‘B’, with a beginner rower on her second day in the crew, tackled their race against Skøll with confidence. Yet again they were down off the start, this time it was half-length by the quarter-mile but the baby blue backed themselves and rowed through their Dutch opponents. They powered through, seizing a lead at Fawley, they walked away from their opponent leading by open water through the enclosures and while Skøll gave it everything they had, they couldn’t stop Edinburgh from seizing a mighty victory. They will progress further than their own ‘A’ crew that fell to Oxford this morning.
Previews
Cambridge University v University of Virginia
Two of the biggest names in rowing from each side of the Atlantic, Cambridge and Virginia will clash on the Henley stretch tomorrow for a spot in this weekend’s racing, the mark of a very successful Henley run. Both crews began their campaigns today, Cambridge were made to work hard by Oxford Brookes while Virginia had an easier run of it, both posting times within a second of each other at the Barrier and Fawley markers. With Virginia Head Coach Kevin Sauer retiring at the end of this regatta, his girls will be keen to keep going by challenging the British crew, one day on from independence day.
Newcastle University v Durham University ‘A’
With the cancellation of Boat Race of the North, we were robbed of a one-on-one dual between the top eights of Newcastle and Durham; however, on the Friday of Henley Royal Regatta, we will be fulfilled. Last year, this matchup played out at the same stage where Durham took the spoils by a length and three-quarters but would fall in the next round. This year, Newcastle looked very quick recently at Henley Women’s Regatta but Durham came out on top last time they raced directly against each other at BUCS Regatta in May. Two months later, the blue star will be keen to overturn their defeat from twelve months ago while Durham will view this as a key step to go deeper into this year’s regatta.
Oxford University vs Oxford Brookes University ‘A’
Rowing and Oxford go together like Pimms and Henley. For almost a century, the University of Oxford has been assembling their top women’s crews and been competitive with almost anyone in the UK. But, in the last few decades they have been usurped, not just for national supremacy but within their own city as Oxford Brookes have grown into the behemoth we know today. In recent years, they have matched their men’s squad in levels of dominance winning, now regularly winning the gold medal at BUCS Regatta in the championship eights. This week, Oxford have brought a crew rather similar to their blue boat and faster than anything they have previously raced since the boat race and will be looking to take a swing at their local rivals.
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