As we hit June, the run into Henley Royal Regatta is well and truly on. The Met Regatta is a two day event, which offers crews valuable race experience as well as coaches to look at the speed of their potential crews for Henley. The Championship Coxed Fours event is especially relevant in terms of looking at who might be looking towards both the Britannia and Prince Albert Challenge Cups at Henley, and the entries across both days are indicative of this fact. Given this is one of the events the Stewards of the Regatta look at in terms of pre- qualification and selection, a good result here will bode very well for their prospects come June 28th.
Imperial College London BC
One of few crews who are entered under the same name for both days of the event, Imperial will be looking to prove that they can compete at the top end come Henley this year. Beaten finalists in the Temple last year, they have struggled a little more this year, being the unfortunate crew to miss out on the final of Men’s Championship Eights at BUCS Regatta. They fared better in the coxed four where they came fourth, and will be looking to build on this here to generate some momentum into the last month into Henley.
Durham University BC
A club who have been on the rise throughout this year, Durham race this event on both days, albeit with crews entered under different names. The Saturday crew comes under the name of Ollie Pearson, who was a part of Durham’s first eight who produced a fifth place finish at BUCS Regatta, and also picked up a Bronze in the Men’s Championship Coxless Fours. The Sunday crew is entered under the name of Callum Prosser, who has been at the top end of Durham’s men’s squad for some time now. Both of these entries will be strong, and will look to follow the positive upward trend that has been seen by Durham over the course of this year.
Vesta RC
One of few clubs who have entered the championship event as opposed to the club event, Vesta will be looking to make a positive impression to the Henley stewards with their speed this weekend. Again, with crews under differing names across the two days it is impossible to know the exact plan for Vesta, however, with a win in Challenge Coxed Fours at Wallingford already under their belts this year, Vesta will be looking to make a statement ahead of Henley.
Oxford & Cambridge University BC
I have grouped these clubs together as they will both be in very similar situations following their Boat Race campaigns this year. Both boats are entered under names of rowers who competed in the Isis vs Goldie race this year, which was won with a degree of comfort by Isis. These crews will likely be made up of people returning next year and wanting to keep rowing over the summer months. Whilst the form book would suggest Oxford as the favourites, it is always hard to tell as it is hard to know how much training has gone on in the wake of the Boat Race at the start of April. Nevertheless, with crews racing championship events, both will clearly have something to show here.
Commercial RC, IRE
A club making the trip over from Ireland, Commercial will want to come with a point to prove that they have something to offer this year at the club level. Semi finalists in the Thames Challenge Cup at Henley last year, they will look to build on that this year. So far this season, they have wins in Senior Coxed Four on both days at the Trinity Regatta to their name, and again, they clearly want to test their speed against the top crews by travelling over and entering the championship event.
University of London BC
Last year’s winners of the Prince Albert Challenge Cup at Henley, UL have had a strong season thus far under the new leadership of Antony Smith. They came second in Men’s Championship Eights at BUCS Regatta and repeated the result the next day in the coxed four. Not knowing the full lineup makes it hard to know exactly how fast this crew will be, however, with an eight also racing on the Sunday, it may well not be their top guys. Nevertheless, the strength in depth at UL means it would be foolish to write them off.
Prediction
This is a tough one to call, especially with different crews on both days. However, my Saturday prediction would be Durham to win, followed by Imperial and Oxford to complete the top three.
Sunday will be a slightly different result, with Imperial overturning Durham, and I think Vesta may sneak under the radar to take third place.
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