With only a month to go before athletes from across the world flock to the banks of Henley for Britain’s most prestigious rowing event, the racing is well and truly heating up as crews move towards the end of the racing season. Returning to Dorney Lake, Metropolitan Regatta is expected to produce yet another year of thrilling races; with the Women’s Academic Eights set to be no exception. Following one of the biggest BUCS Regatta lineups in the event’s history, university rowing just keeps getting bigger and better, meaning these academic categories are stacked with talent and determination; all the ingredients for some excellent racing.
Newcastle University Boat Club
Always ones to watch, Newcastle University, have their B and C crews lined up in the Academic Eights category, and they are ready for a rematch, facing up against some of their BUCS Regatta finalists again this weekend. Assuming no major changes have been made to the lineup, these crews have performed steadily throughout the season including both finishing within the top 75 at Women’s Eights Head of the River and top 20 in the Intermediate Eights at the university championships. Taking to the water against familiar crews, the game is on again for Newcastle to try once more to make their mark amongst some of the university circuit’s toughest challengers.
Cambridge University Boat Club
With just one team entered for Saturday’s event, all eyes will be on the crew from Cambridge University Boat Club. Following their historic performance securing Boat Race glory for a seventh consecutive year, the Blue Boat are back hoping to extend their evergrowing list of successes. Assuming this is the same crew, the boat is bursting with talent and racing experience including U23 World Champion Megan Lee leading the charge in stroke seat. To name only a few of the long list of honourable mentions, double European bronze medallist Gemma King is again teaming up with Carys Earl; a duo who finished in a very impressive third position at recent British trials. After a BUCS medal slipped through their fingers by a mere length, the Light Blues are back and with experienced cox Hannah Murphy at the helm, this squad are definite favourites to go well.
University of Surrey Boat Club
Having steadily made a name for themselves within the university circuit over the past few years, Surrey achieved historic BUCS Regatta results for the club this year. This crew includes Women’s Lightweight Pair silver medallists Freya Spurling and Sacha Kennedy are pairing up with Georgina Dunsmore, who along with teammate Maddie Egan finished a very respectable fourth position in the same event, as well as taking home a Bronze in the Lightweight Quadruple Sculls. Making up the rest of Surrey‘s singular entry in the category is Elysia Rushworth, Ellen Green, Nell Papworth and Eleanor Stratton who also put on an impressive show in the Intermediate Four, storming through to take a win in the B final holding off some fierce competition from Durham University BC and University of London BC. Whilst this crew’s previous effort racing in the eight left them fifth in the Intermediate B final, Surrey have clearly constructed a highly effective programme so no doubt this team will be ones to watch.
Notable Mentions
Other crews to keep an eye on are the team from Durham University Boat Club who finished just behind another Cambridge crew in the Intermediate Eights final, as well as Southampton University Boat Club and Bristol University Boat Club’s A crews, led by Emily Norfolk and Josie Sawbridge, respectively.
Prediction
Given recent results, I am confident pinning the Cambridge crew as likely champions given their sheer abundance of high-level race experience which sets them apart from the fleet. Already settled well amongst some of the fastest university crews in the country with their performance in Championship events, they have a real chance a securing success. When compared to the majority of the other competitors who, while familiar with each other, are used to the Intermediate events, Cambridge could be set to edge themselves back into a podium spot.
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