Yet again we find ourselves on the tideway, anticipating another 6.8km down the championship course, from Chiswick to Putney. Student rowers, fresh or returning, will have just about settled down into their clubs and squads and are now looking to prove their speed in larger crews. With 12 crews from eight clubs, there is strong competition present. The reigning champions, Oxford University Lightweights, are absent from this year’s run. UL settled into a comfortable second and third last time so will they finally be able to bring home some silverware on their own turf?
University of London
The purple palace has only entered one crew this year but let there be no doubts about their strength. With three quarters of the crew having come in the top ten in championship categories at the Pairs Head just three weeks ago, head coach Antony Smith is bound to have high hopes for these crews on their home stretch.
Imperial College London
Moving over to Putney you will find the black, blue, and silver of Imperial College London. Taking advantage of the home water, Peter Hardcastle has sent his club in full force with three crews entered in this category alone. A strong finishing position is expected, and an influx of fresh faces may provide opportunity for some surprising results.
Nottingham University
Ade Roberts has returned to his roots and has been posting success after success for Nottingham University. He has come in all guns blazing with three crews entered, containing a lot of returning rowers – notably three of the four athletes in Nottingham D are returning from last year’s Temple eight. Nottingham may be the rising underdog…
Predictions
It is hard to put a bet against the home crews of UL or Imperial coupled with the wild card of Nottingham.
A tussle between Imperial (K), (I) and Nottingham (D) for the higher end of the mid table positions is to be expected. However, at the end of the day I would hedge my bets with UL to take home the silverware, with Imperial (J) not too far behind.
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