A popular event at the Henley Women’s Regatta, the Lester Trophy has attracted thirty-nine entries from thirty-one clubs from across England with one entry from the Republic of Ireland. It is the coxless fours event for Aspirational Club crews, in other words events for non-students who do not have neither international vests nor major results on the domestic scene.
Upper Thames RC
As the form crew coming into Henley Women’s Regatta, Upper Thames RC will be high on their chances of success on the stretch. Their regatta season results have been just about perfect starting the season off with wins at both Club Coxless Fours at the Wallingford Regatta and won the Women’s Coxless Four at Nottingham City Regatta. Their hot streak continued to the Metropolitan Regatta where they placed fourth overall in the Women’s Coxless Fours on Saturday, picking up the victory in the Club category, more than twelve seconds ahead of their closest competitor in the Time Trial. They will be hoping that this form over two kilometres will carry over to the 1500 metre Henley Women’s course.
Wallingford RC
Making their trip down the Thames is Wallingford RC. The women in red have had a fairly successful season so far, placing second at their own Wallingford Regatta in April before winning the Women’s Coxless Four at the Walton and Weybridge Regatta. Their trip to the Metropolitan Regatta was less ideal placing ninth in the time trial on Saturday among crews entered in the Club event and then not starting their C Final in the evening. They will be hoping to perform better coming into the most prestigious race of their season and step on from their most recent showing on Dorney Lake.
Worcester RC
Another club that has had a successful start to the season, Worcester RC boated a crew that placed second at the Nottingham City Regatta as well as being the second fastest club crew on the Saturday of Metropolitan Regatta and the fastest on Sunday. Worcester have two crews entered into this event and neither of those on the provisional crew list maps directly onto the crew from the Metropolitan Regatta, but any changes to the line-ups will likely come from coaches believing there is more speed in the new line-up – a frightening prospect for the other clubs on the entry list.
Nottingham RC
Another crew worth keeping an eye out is that from Nottingham RC. They placed third in the Women’s Coxless Fours at their home race, the Nottingham City Regatta, before placing third among club crews in the Saturday racing of the Metropolitan Regatta at Dorney Lake. Those sort of results would lead to the crew still likely racing at lunchtime on Sunday at HWR, and then they will be looking to do enough in the gladiatorial duels to go all the way.
Thames RC
Always a name that catches the eye on an entry list, Thames RC have one crew racing in this event. This crew appears to be the one who raced the coxless four on Sunday at the Metropolitan Regatta. At that event they placed second in the club event although with a reduced field. They may also be quite similar to the crew that placed fourth in the club event at the Wallingford Regatta too. The lack of clarity about the level of this crew means that a wide range of outcomes is possible depending on which ends of the deep Thames Squad will be represent.
Predictions
With forty boats in the category there are likely to be quality crews that have been overlooked but given the level of the dominance that the Upper Thames RC have had on this category all season, I would struggle to suggest that anyone else will be going home with the medals. As for others that you can expect to see deep into the competitions, Worcester and Wallingford would be my best guesses.
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