Every year crews across the South Coast come together for the ultimate showdown of strength, power and pure will. With an annual location change, this year’s regatta sees the coastal crews take on the waters of Netley, Southampton. After a gruelling season of coastal racing, the South Coast Championships hosts crews from three organisations, CARA, Hants & Dorset and WEARA. Unlike beach sprints or even the coastal world championships, the South Coast Championship is raced over a straight 2k course, with all races in stern-loaded coxed fours racing out on the sea. To reach the championships you must have the top two total points collected within your category for your organisation throughout this season. Let’s have a look at how the championship crews stack up.
Championship Open Senior Fours
The ultimate award on offer, The Bideford Bowl. With such a rich and deep history connected to this event, the trophy is stacked high to fill the names of all previous winners, boasting one of the biggest trophies on offer in the rowing world. Deal is a crew who perhaps have had the biggest struggle to win this. Many opportunities have had them fall short, despite having strong crews in the past they’ve always seen stronger crews come through and take the bowl ahead of them. Perhaps this year is their year? It seems the lineup is full of talent that can’t be ignored as a threat to secure this win. The CARA crew qualified the Wyfold at Henley Royal Regatta and won their first round against Black Sheep Rowing Club, marking the club’s first ever time winning a round at the prestigious event. Itchen Imperial is a force of top-tier rowers that have proved a threat to Deal in the past, so without their presence this time around, they have a real opportunity to take into their hands. Hants & Dorset’s Coalporters are perhaps the biggest challenge to this, with WEARA’s Bideford Reds and Bideford Blues crews also in the mix to lift the Bowl. With Deal showing the most results through the season, it’s their race to lose.
Championship Ladies Senior Fours
Returning as champions from last year’s event and also top of CARA this season, Deal was on track to have a clear pathway to take the win. However, has a recent injury opened this up to be anyone’s to take? A club rich in culture, as well as talent, there’s no doubt they will pull together a fierce crew to try and take home the win for the second year running. From Hants & Dorset, BTC and Lymington are the two crews fighting CARA’s Shoreham. A tough race but a great show will no doubt take place in the women’s senior fours, as it really can be anyone’s game. Shoreham will no doubt put up a strong fight and perhaps have the power to get out on top, but without the season of winning experience will it be enough to cross the line first?
Championship Open Junior-Senior Fours
Nothing shy of talent is in this year’s junior-senior championships race. CARA’s Shoreham and Herne Bay are full of well-experienced rowers who will put everything they’ve learned onto the track. Shoreham has time and time again taken the win this season, making them CARA’s best chance to take this championship home. Hants & Dorset see Southampton try to take the win for their organisation. With the home water advantage, something arguably of much more significance for coastal racing than river, they stand a chance to outpace their competitors on their turf. WEARA’s Bideford Reds have perhaps had too rocky of a season to securely state their position. A lot of mystery surrounds where they may place and can either be in with a chance, or completely out of the race.
Championship Ladies Junior Fours
Shoreham has been dominant in the CARA league, with continuous firsts and seconds at every step of the way. The strength of their results displays the time and effort put into training and how well prepared they are going into the championships. The title is theirs for the taking, but nothing is guaranteed until the finish line has been crossed. The winners from last year’s event, Southsea are out of the mix with Itchen Imperial and Lymington replacing them as Hants & Dorset’s representatives. Itchen Imperial is a club full of talent, and with wins through the season, they show they have come with something to say. With great results from the top CARA and Hants & Dorset crews, it will be perhaps the race of the day.
Championship Open Junior Fours
The CARA season saw a true battle for the championship title. While Bexhill came out strong at the start, it was hard fought in the later stages of the season with Folkestone ultimately claiming it. With Bexhill being defeated when it matters most, it leaves Folkestone with a strong chance of claiming the event as theirs. Taking second at Southsea regatta, a regatta where CARA as well as Hants & Dorset crews race, they are in with a chance, but as is the way with coastal, there are no guarantees. Ryde was the crew to beat Folkestone, but with Itchen Imperial and Shanklin being the Hants & Dorset crews to make the championship could it be that their day has finally come to secure the win? WEARA’s Bideford Reds are the wildcard, with no crossovers yet it could prove a new challenge.
Championship Mixed Masters 40+
BTC from Hants & Dorset have had the exact experience they need. Winning. And lots of it. Their display of trophies should back their confidence in being able to produce a winning time in this year’s event. However, no race has been won yet, and it will certainly be a hard-earned victory to take. CARA’s Eastbourne and Shoreham are top contenders with strong rowers and good experience. The two CARA crews have traced places, never one consistently beating the other, showing perhaps the prowess of master talent across the South Coast. But will the up-and-down season be enough for either crew to top the winning streak of BTC?
Predictions
Deal is a club full of character and culture. It had bred true resilience which has tested them over the years. But the hard-earned bowl win will finally come as I believe this is the year to finally seal the deal and win the championship open senior fours.
The Ladies’ senior fours is set to be one of the most exciting races and hardest to predict. After a season of success, BTC seems to have what it takes to win this championship event and go home victorious.
The junior-senior championship will be a tough race, but Shoreham should take the win here thanks to their season of dominance, aided by too their training and a wealth of experience.
The men’s junior four will be a tough event, but with an upward trend, Folkestone may well have timed their peak to perfection to take the win in this event.
With such strength through their season, and two crews making the championship final, Shoreham seem to have what it takes to top the Hants & Dorset crews in the Ladies’ junior fours championship.
The masters 40+ will be a tough race. It will be decided on the line with some place trading on the way. While CARA’s Shoreham and Eastbourne are top-class crews, BTC has what it takes to top both crews and have the missing key of consistency that the CARA crews lack. It should be an exciting day of racing, nothing is guaranteed and everything is on the line!
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