Set bang in the middle of the Met and Marlow Regatta’s, the Reading Amateur Regatta occupies a unique position within the rowing calendar. Although it’s not a major regatta in comparison to the Met or Marlow, Reading usually sees a plethora of international crews begin to make their way over from Germany, the Netherlands and even further afield from the USA and Australia. This, combined with the addition of junior crews into the mix, creates a delightful concoction of racing that is sure to wet the appetite for Henley Royal
Open Single Sculls
The German entry from Rudergemeinschaft Gymnasium Gerresheim is going to throw a spanner in the works for the British entrants, I would hedge bets that this is a sculler who is looking at the regattas around the corner (figuratively and literally) and is using Reading as a litmus test to see where they are amongst this field. Outside of that entry, Bournemouth University has one sculler, and with some solid middle of the pack results from BUCs, including two minor final results in the intermediate doubles, they may have had the chance to build on this and do some good racing this weekend. There are also two entries from University College, Oxford and three from Southampton Coalporters ARC. With some other scullers thrown in the mix, and a real melting pot of universities, clubs, international and college entries this category reminds me why regatta racing is so much fun. We will have to see who comes out on top from this eclectic group, and hopefully it should provide some interesting racing.
Open Double Sculls
A category that is chock a block full of international crews, there are two international contenders spread across bands one and two of this event, Rudergermeinschaft Gynasium Gerresh, and Pine Rivers Rowing Club, Australia. Hailing from the great state of Queensland, Pine has a track record of producing good scullers at junior level, with recent U19 internationals Ella Smith and Jaeve Proberts both learning their trade there. Gynasium Gerresh also has a great deal of pedigree, putting in solid performances at the recent German National Championships in May, an outstanding feat for a club that is community funded. In the best of the rest as it were, the night of London RC and Reading, heavyweights of British sculling loom large over the rest of the field. Given what both the former and the latter have brought to club sculling over the past couple of years, I would expect at least one of them to make the final, with possibly Pine making the final as well. With the international being relative unknowns, who wins this category will ultimately be decided on the day.
Open Quads
When done correctly, a quad is one of the fastest boats on the water and is a truly a joy to watch. Of the six crews in the Open Quads, Reading University stand alone in terms of quality, off the back of BUCS regatta in May, where they cracked the top three in the overall VL, beating several of the countries top sweep and sculling universities in the process. It’s hard to see any of the other clubs in the category which includes two quads from Bournemouth and Gloucester challenging them so this should be a fairly straightforward win for Reading.
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