With under 40 days to go until HRR, the Metropolitan Regatta is a last chance saloon for various boat clubs, both for qualification and to test their mettle against crews in open lane racing. The quad has traditionally been one of the most hotly-contested events across the regatta, and even though the standard of the championship events is far higher, the entries for this years regatta represent a wide spectrum of clubs from across Britain. With last year’s winners – Thames RC – absent, the opportunity for the win is there for the taking.
Reading University Boat Club
There are three certainties in life: death, taxes, and fast Reading sculling boats. With five entries in this category and having come off the back of one of the most most successful BUCS campaigns in the clubs history (finishing third overall in the VL, a 1-2 in the championship single, and medals in both men’s and women’s championship quads) it would be fair to assume that the mood is high in the Reading camp. Having beaten every university crew in the land, they must now contend with club crews, many of whom have been doing this for far longer and have more years of experience. Reading must also deal with painful memories of Metropolitan Regattas past. In 2023, they finished fourth, and in 2022 came agonisingly close to beating the GB quad racing under Nautilus. Reading remain far and away the best university crew in the field, and given that this season has seen them ascend to even greater heights than before, a top-three finish is a certainty and win more likely than not, despite previous results.
Loughborough Students Rowing Club
A bit of a curveball here, but given previous results I think it is justified. Hailing from a university that excels in just about every sport, rowing has long been an area where Loughborough have fallen short of the high sporting standards of their institution. However, a recent performance at BUCS regatta, which saw the championship quad make the A-final (finishing sixth) represents something of a step on, and, combined with a bronze at BUCS Head earlier in the season, makes them contenders to put in a good performance here. Realistically, I would not bet on Loughborough to go all the way, as whilst their recent results are encouraging, the dominance of Reading and more established programs represents insurmountable odds. However, an A-final does not seem out of the question, and provided they maintain the same quality of racing that has got them thus far, Loughborough should do fairly well.
London Rowing Club and Lea RC
Two clubs from different ends of the club rowing sculling scene join forces for a composite here. Lea RC, based in Hackney, have produced a range of capable athletes including current Leander man Marlow Depeza-Purvis and former Newcastle University Boat Club GB trials Sam O’Connor. They’re a fantastic example of a club that is able to punch above its weight in a club rowing landscape that is too often dominated by larger tideway clubs like Thames and London. This weekend, they link up with the aforementioned who need no introduction. London RC have regained their position as one of the foremost sweep clubs in Britain over the past few years, with semi-finals at Henley in the Britannia Challenge Cup, a win in the Wyfold Challenge Cup and a Prince of Wales campaign ended courtesy of the Dutch national team. Arguably better known as a sweep club, London has nevertheless put in commendable performances in sculling over the past few years, and when placed in combinations with the small but mighty sculling pedigree of Lea RC, one has a boat that should go very fast. With little crew data available for the combination, this remains pure speculation and can only be proved by a strong performance this weekend.
Bath University and Nottinghamshire County Rowing Association
Another composite where data is relatively scarce but the promise is certainly there. Bath were fourth in open championship quads at BUCS Regatta four or so weeks ago and have teamed up with NCRA in what is likely to be a tilt at the Prince of Wales Challenge Cup. Two richly-talented squads combining in this way promises a great deal but given the fact that they’re not in close proximity to each other, they may have struggled for water time. If this grouping persists through the coming weeks, expect them to get faster and faster.
Prediction
With the season Reading have had, I would be shocked if they did not take home at least a top-three finish. The two composites in the field, London RC/Lea and Bath/Notts County RA, should go very well based on reputation alone as should the Agecroft RC quad that is also entered. Realistically any of these crews could come away with a podium spot, but for the sake of clarity I will back Reading for gold, London RC/Lea for silver and Bath/Notts County RA for bronze.
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