Rutherford head is a staple event for those competing in the North. A demanding 4.5km course through Newcastle, where the smallest of margins are but one of the many joys of this relentless event.
The Open Coxless Fours is always a competitive category, with the three northern high-performance programs, as always, returning to take home some silverware.
Recent cancellations mean this is one of the first major races to bring out larger crews. As well as this a lack of crew lists, and athletes doubling up throughout the two divisions means that speed is difficult to predict and likely to be variable.
Tyne Amateur Rowing Club
With one crew entered under Shaw, we can presume this four is built from Tyne’s top eight which is also entered under Shaw in division one. Alex Shaw stroked Tyne’s Wyfold four during their last Henley campaign, reaching the quarterfinals, consistently being in the top ranks of the Tyne’s men.
Tyne has always been Newcastle’s high-performance club for non-students and the top of their squads are frequently on par with the northern high-performance centre’s second and third crews. This will be an exciting match up with some potential for the underdogs to come through, especially considering this is their home water.
Newcastle University Boat Club
Being the home crew, and the current holders of the Op 4- trophy at Rutherford head, Newcastle will have high hopes to win this, they also have two crews entered, doubling their odds.
One of their crews is entered under Jones, and it is safe to assume that this is the same Jones under which their top eight is entered in the morning division. Jones also featured in Newcastle’s Temple eight at Henley Royal Regatta last year. Hillier, under which the second crew was entered, was also present in the club’s Temple eight.
It is hard to say where exactly these crews feature in Newcastle’s internal rankings due to their immense depth and quality, but we can easily say Newcastle are very strong contenders and the home favourites.
Durham University Boat Club
Durham have one crew entered into this event under Warren, who was a stalwart of DUBC’s second varsity throughout the 22-23 season, proving that this is no crew to laugh at.
In recent times, Durham seem to have the pace advantage over Newcastle men, and with this being race being the first of many in which we can watch the Newcastle-Durham rivalry blossom, this crew will certainly be one to watch.
Edinburgh University Boat Club
The sole Scottish high performance program, Edinburgh have over 150 years of pedigree in the North of the UK and have had year upon year of success in recent times. With one crew entered under Bone, yet again the same name under which their top eight is entered in the morning division we can be assured of their quality.
Edinburgh have at times struggled with the depth of their squad, but this has been changing over the last few years leading to some stellar performances for the Scottish athletes. Last year especially had Edinburgh taking home 9 beginner medals, with these athletes moving up to the open crews we may have new faces present, with unknown speed but promising potential.
Prediction
With such a dry start to the year in terms of racing it is a struggle to put a real pointer on different squads’ paces, let alone the individual crews.
However, with Newcastle being on their home stretch, especially in a coxless crew, I would have to back one of their crews entered under for a victory. With a bias towards the crew entered under Jones, purely since he is known to be in Newcastle’s top crew. But underestimating Durham or Edinburgh has never been the wisest of decisions…
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