It’s fantastic to see the introduction of this event in 2021, after we missed it due to the cancellation of HRR in 2020. This season we have seen some incredible head-to-heads at Met Regatta, BUCS Regatta and Henley Women’s Regatta, and some favourites are clearly emerging.
With only 10 crews entered (limit of 12), all crews have automatically qualified, a fantastic relief for those who might have been on the borderline. Three entrants from UL, two from Oxford Brookes and two from Newcastle make up the bulk of the entries and we can expect their top crews to be the ones contending the win.
Oxford Brookes University
Similar to their strategy on the men’s side, the top Brookes crew in this event is made up of the top athletes who are eligible, with many first eight athletes not being eligible due to not being students at the University and instead competing in the Remenham. The majority of the athletes in the first boat took the win in Championship Eights at BUCS Regatta holding off a strong UL crew. These athletes were then ineligible for the Academic Eights at HWR meaning it was UL who took the win on that occasion. Fresh from glory at the U23 World Championships, Daisy Bellamy comes into the crew to strengthen it having been absent at BUCS Regatta.
University of London
The depth in the women’s squad at the University of London is impressive, three boats entered when most universities haven’t entered even one. Their top boat is made up of athletes who won silver at BUCS Regatta in Championship Eights, which was split into the crews which won both Academic Eights and Championship Fours at HWR. While Brookes are the favourites this UL crew definitely does have a chance to beat them and take the win in the inaugural Island Challenge Cup final.
Newcastle University
Unfortunately for the Blue Star, they were a way off the pace at BUCS Regatta, although they did take bronze in Championship Eights. It’s likely that they will make it to the Saturday however they would need a stellar performance to make it to Sunday.
University of Cambridge
We haven’t seen this Cambridge crew before, having been put together since HWR. It features the King sisters Catherine and Gemma who did so well in the lightweight events at BUCS Regatta, Abigail Parker who sculled impressively at both BUCS and HWR, and others who have competed in the Boat Race and throughout the summer. If they click they have the quality on paper to go pretty quick, the question is, how quick?
Prediction for this event is for Oxford Brookes to win in a decent final against UL. Newcastle and Cambridge to make it to Saturday.
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