The Metropolitan Regatta returns to Dorney Lake once again. Now in its 156th year, this is a contest steeped in history, and its 2022 iteration promises to host some of the nation’s best in class as they gear towards qualification for both Henley Women’s and Henley Royal Regattas. The roster of entries supplied across the weekend in the women’s championship eights are a direct reflection of the quality of rowing that will no doubt be displayed. Below, I will outline some of the favourites going into the weekend, before offering medal predictions for both the Saturday and the Sunday draws.
Nautilus RC
A pseudonym for athletes currently representing British Rowing, Nautilus RC inevitably offers the best of the best when it comes to current sweep athletes. The fact they are supplying two entries on Saturday in this event is a strong statement to say the least, and I have no doubt that both crews will seek to capitalise on their calibre when it comes to their performances.
Of the two entries, their ‘A’ boat certainly looks stronger on paper, but perhaps their ‘B’ boat will seek to disrupt tradition and provide an exhilarating race down the track. Nevertheless, it will come as no surprise that these crews feature in this ‘ones to watch’ list for Saturday. The crews racing on Sunday will likely be thankful for their absence.
Leander Club
With two entries poised for the podium on Saturday and one on Sunday, I will be interested to see how many Leander athletes double up in this event across the weekend. No doubt their ‘A’ boat will be hungry for the gold on Saturday. However, with many of the squad’s top athletes now based at Caversham, perhaps some of whom we will see in the rival Nautilus boats, as training for the Paris Olympiad has officially begun since World Cup I in Belgrade last week, I am looking forward to some newer faces stepping up to the plate across the three boats alongside some well-known household names.
As far as claiming the victory is concerned, I am confident that all three Leander boats will come out strongly in the time trials, which will set them up nicely for a chase down the track in their respective finals.
Oxford Brookes University BC
With only one entry featuring on the Saturday, this crew will contain those athletes which have not travelled with the squad to compete at Ratzeburg Regatta in Germany. The depth of the club is always impressive but this probably means that the crew will not be in contention to win.
University of London BC
Supplying one entry on each day, the women of UL are certainly doing everything in their power to secure a win here. Having claimed silver at BUCS Regatta back in May, I imagine this crew will at least have their sights firmly set on claiming victory over their main adversaries this year, Oxford Brookes. All things considered, there is no doubt that this crew has talent. Whether it will be enough to top the podium amidst such company, we will have to wait and see.
Tideway Scullers School
Scullers have been firmly working their way up the ladder when it comes to women’s sweep, not least in the eight. Their 2021 Henley campaign culminated in wins in the Aspirational Club Eight and Aspirational Club Four at Henley Women’s Regatta, so I am certainly watching this crew with eagle eyes on Sunday.
Prediction
When it comes to Saturday’s draw, I could foresee a nail-biting race to the line between both Nautilus crews, Leander ‘A’, and perhaps even Brookes and UL right up there with them. Ultimately, I foresee Nautilus ‘A’ coming out on top, though I have no doubt that their competitors will not give up without a fight. For Sunday on the other hand, a two-boat tussle for the win between Scullers and UL seems likely. This will be a hard fought win on both days, and I can’t wait to see who claims victory at each run down the track.
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