Reviews
Durham University ‘B’ vs Nottingham University
In one of the closest races of the day, Durham ‘B’ and Nottingham were taking swings at each other all the way down the course like two prize fighters. Neither crew ever lead by more than a half a length in the second half of the race. Off the start, it was Durham who took the first advantage, benefiting from a fiery start to lead by a length at the quarter mile. At the Fawley marker, Nottingham played their first card but this was rebuffed by the Palatinate crew. Nottingham carried this mentality throughout the race, ultimately clinching the lead through Remenham Farm, after going stroke-for-stroke and seat-for-seat across several hundred metres. Entering the enclosures, Nottingham held the lead but despite several strong efforts from Durham, Nottingham held off to win by just over a canvas in front of the floating grandstand.
Bristol University vs University College Dublin, IRL
Two first eights, from opposite sides of the Irish sea. Bristol got the better of UC Dublin by just 1.4 seconds in the Time Trial at Henley Women’s Regatta, before they both fell in the quarter finals to the eventual finalists. This week they were afforded the opportunity to directly race against each other and through the 1500m Henley Women’s Course they remained nip and tuck. The UCD gained a canvas off the start but then Bristol pulled it back to lead by just a foot as they passed halfway. Bristol, who were racing on the Berkshire station, pressed their advantage, pulling away beyond the Remenham Club to claim victory by three-quarters of a length.
Southern Methodist University, USA vs Boston University, USA
These two American crews met each other for the last time in the D Final at the NCAA Rowing Championships four weeks ago, and were reunited on the Henley stretch this week. Off the start, the Boston University terriers jumped out to an early lead but couldn’t shake off the Southern Methodist University mustangs. The Texas based crew crept back and back into the fight, moving from half a length down at the Barrier to just less than a canvas behind the Boston crew as they entered the enclosures. However, when they looked like they might manage the overhaul, the mustangs ran out of gas and fell to a half-length defeat after suffering from the difficulties of the extra 112 metres of the Henley Royal Regatta course.
Previews
Edinburgh University ‘A’ vs Oxford University
After overcoming the B crew from the University of London today, Edinburgh University are faced with a test against Oxford University. The dark blue crew were not pre-qualified by the stewards, but then displayed enough speed to be selected by the stewards for a bye. This crew contains a number of blue boat athletes and is stroked by the incoming President of the club. But most notably for tomorrow’s race, Lilli Freischem: a former standout in the celeste of Edinburgh has now changed camps and will be racing in this Oxford boat, coming up against previous teammates.
Oxford Brookes University ‘B’ vs Cambridge University
Another blue boat adjacent crew, the light blues of Cambridge bring a crew rather similar to their offering in this year’s boat race. They are met tomorrow by the second Island crew from Oxford Brookes. Unusually at BUCS, the Cambridge crew raced at nearly full strength and placed fourth in the championship category. However, the Brookes crews, who were racing in the intermediate event posted times as fast or faster than the light blues at the same regatta. Nine weeks later, and it feels as if there has been an entire season, the relative development of the crews will be tested as they both look towards the business end of the week.
A.S.R Nereus, NED vs Newcastle University
Coming out of a confident victory over the University of Rhode Island, Newcastle will face a tougher international test in the form of ASR Nereus. Reliably the best program in continental Europe, the Amsterdam-based programme have crossed the North Sea with plenty of form. They set fast times in the Netherlands on the Bosbaan, almost breaking 6:30 over 2000m. They raced at Henley Women’s in fours, so there is no direct comparison, but it is sure to be a barnburner between the crews based just a short ferry-trip apart.
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