Now mere weeks away from Henley Women’s and Royal Regattas, crews with one eye on these events will be using the Metropolitan Regatta to measure themselves up against the competition. One of the last pre-Henley multi lane events, it’s reasonable to assume that all of these crews have aspirations of qualifying a boat for the Henley Royal, whether in open, club, or academic divisions: the Remenham, Wargrave and Island Challenge Cups respectively.
With a opportunity opened up by the lack of any Thames or Brookes boats in this category, it’s all to play for for some of these university crews against the likes of Leander.
Leander Club/Imperial College BC
Saturday
This is always an intimidating name to see on the draw, especially so fresh from winning the Presidents Cup for Women’s Challenge Eights at Wallingford Regatta just three weeks prior. Likely to be a very similar (if not identical!) crew, Leander’s women really seem to be finding their stride, especially in small boats, and I hope to see this translate into the eight as well.
Leander Club
Saturday
Similar to their top boat, Leander ‘B’ came away with a strong finish at Wallingford recently, placing third in an all Thames/Leander final. With no TRC crews this time around and a more university-dense draw, I imagine that their coaches will be using this as an opportunity to not only measure their boats against the field, but also against one another, as these crews have chopped and changed a little throughout the season and will likely continue to do so in the run up to Henley.
Newcastle University
Saturday & Sunday
After having to settle for fifth place in the at BUCS Regatta in women’s championship eights, I really hope to see NUBC having stepped on in recent weeks. They’ve come up against the likes of Durham and UL multiple times recently, and I’d really like to see them hold their own here and challenge for a podium finish, especially with fewer entries on the Sunday.
Durham University
Saturday & Sunday
Having lost out to the formidable force of Oxford Brookes in the championship eights at BUCS this year, DUBC will be looking to make a name for themselves against the like of Leander this weekend. Racing both days, this looks to be the same crew who raced at Nottingham last month, so I imagine they’ll have spent significant time finding additional speed in order to start working towards HRR.
University of London
Saturday & Sunday
Taking up the bronze podium position at BUCS was UL, and again this looks to be an identical crew to that who we’ve already seen race. I’m sure they’ll be fired up to give Durham a re-run here, and again are likely to have found additional speed, with rumour of multiple 2k PBs in this boat just last week.
University of Edinburgh
Saturday & Sunday
EUBC won the B-final at this event last year, and more recently placed sixth in the championship eights at BUCS, so I imagine that they’ll be pushing to be among the big names this time around. As is now familiar with this crews, I can guess that this will be the same eight athletes and cox from BUCS, and I hope to see them having learnt from their season so far and stepped on.
Upper Thames Rowing Club
Sunday
UTRC may only be making an appearance on Sunday, but I imagine that they’ll be a force to be reckoned with. Another club who has recently had success in smaller boats, including some strong coxless fours so far this season, I hope to see this pull together into the eight at Met this weekend.
Prediction
For me, it’s hard to look past the chances of Leander Club absolutely dominating this event. On Saturday, I expect to see Leander take first and second, with a fight down to the wire for third between Durham and UL. On Sunday, I’d really like to see some of the university crews step up to take the podium, likely again between UL and Durham, but UTRC could equally pose a threat, as could some of the Irish universities entered here, including Galway.
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