As we move closer to Henley Women’s and Henley Royal Regattas, Women’s Club Eights becomes an ever-more enticing event. We’re beginning to get some indication as to what events clubs will focus on for those two season-defining events, but with some clubs fielding eights for the first time this regatta season, this category and the implications of the results at Metropolitan Regatta remain to be seen. So far this season, Thames have been the dominant force in Club rowing, but with the largest field of club eights assembled at a regatta thus far this season, the positioning of other Henley contenders may become clearer.
Saturday
Thames Rowing Club have had a great start to the summer regatta season. Following on from a sixth-placed finish for their top boat at Women’s Eights Head of the River Race, they’ve already taken wins at Wallingford and Poplar Regatta. At the latter they achieved a clean sweep of the podium in the top women’s Eights ‘Gold’ category, which speaks to the impressive depth of their current squad. For Metropolitan Regatta, they have their top four crews entered in Women’s Club Eights and will be coming off the back of some warm weather training in Cerlac. Their A crew look to be strong favourites, while their B, C and D crews will also be wanting to put in strong performances and continue the whole club dominance.
Thames’ local rivals Vesta Rowing Club have also had a strong start to the regatta season, making championship finals at both Wallingford and Poplar Regatta. Vesta A finished just behind Thames B at Women’s Eights Head of the River Race and so far have continued to be just off the pace of the Thames B and C this summer. However, as they gear up for Henley Women’s and Henley Royal, they’ll believe that is a gap that can be bridged. Vesta B are also entered, and will be looking to build from their win in the Trophy Women’s Eights category at Poplar, and push not only the other crews but also Vesta A.
Molesey Boat Club finished just outside the top ten at Women’s Eights Head of the River Race, and will be looking to build on that strong performance as an eight this summer. While they’ve competed in fours at Poplar and Wallingford, Metropolitan Regatta looks set to be their first event of the summer with a senior eight. While this may be indicative of where they’re choosing to focus their efforts this season, it will be interesting to see how they hold up.
London Rowing Club took the Small Club Pennant at Women’s Eights Head of the River Race, taking 21st place overall. Their Eight failed to make it out of an all-Putney Embankment heat comprised of Vesta RC, Thames RC and themselves at Wallingford, but they’ll be hoping to have closed the gap in the weeks since then.
Sunday
Many crews look set to be doubling up, having entered Clubs Eights on both the Saturday and Sunday, giving many clubs the opportunity to shuffle line ups and compare results in a competitive setting. Thames RC are out in force again on Sunday with all their crews entered to compete on both days. Vesta RC A are also back again, along with Nottingham Rowing Club, City of Bristol, and London RC among others. Of the crews only choosing to compete on the Sunday, Cantabrigian Rowing Club and Lea Rowing Club will be hoping their fresher legs help propel them into the higher finals.
Predictions
The strength of Thames RC at the moment means they go into this weekend as strong favourites on both the Saturday and Sunday, with their B and C crews amongst the strongest competition to their A boat. Vesta and Molesey presented their fiercest test through the headship season and the Metropolitan Regatta represents the first step on the run-in to Henley. It will be interesting to see if either of these clubs have closed the gap.
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