Taking place on the iconic Dorney lake, Wallingford regatta is a great opportunity for crews to race each other in a multilane event, the first in the season for some of these boats. Competing for the Coronation Challenge Cup, many of the entrants to this event will be familiar with each other as they are predominantly based on the Thames. However, this year’s draw is a real mixture of elite and intermediate crews which always makes for exciting viewing.
City of Bristol RC
One of few clubs that doesn’t train on the tideway that has entered this race, CoBRC have set themselves a big challenge this year. Previously at Wallingford Regatta, CoBRC competed in the club coxed four and finished second place behind Kingston RC. The step up from a club event to a challenge is a huge leap to take especially with the likes of Thames RC and London RC. But the momentum that Bristol have been gaining over the past few years, shown with a third place in the Jackson Trophy at Head of the River this past March, illustrate that they are not to be written off.
London Rowing Club
Based on the Thames, LRC is one of the country’s most successful boat clubs with a seemingly endless list of victories from home and international events. This event will serve as the opener for their HRR campaign. LRC had to settle for second place in this event last year behind the schoolboys of Shiplake College by an almost unbelievably close finish, this is not a loss that would have been forgotten quickly. They were also knocked out of the final in the Britannia Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta 2023 by Thames RC. Being that their competitors will also be racing in this category, LRC will be rowing with a vengeance to set an early lead in the run up into this years Henley campaign.
Molesey Rowing Club
Yet another club that trains on the Thames, Molesey RC is a high-performance club that is able to display the best of British rowing. Last year was successful for this club for this boat class. A series of strong results at Marlow and Metropolitan regatta culminated in a final in the Britannia Challenge Cup between them and Thames RC. Being up against Thames RC and other elite clubs that will also be aiming for a HRR win, will ask only the best from Molesey BC and they will need that extra push to get a win here.
Nottingham Rowing Club
One of the most successful boat clubs outside of London, Nottingham RC are a rapidly developing club that will try to hold their water against the giants of this event such as Thames and London. Coming in as an underdog may be a daunting prospect of this crew, but the potential experience to gain from competing in this category will give them an assured confidence to continue to stretch their rowing capabilities.
Royal Chester Rowing Club
Travelling up the country, we come to the most northern entrant for this event. Rowing on the river Dee, RCRC are a well-rounded club that perform well at the amateur level and experienced level. Winning the Jackson trophy at this seasons HORR, where their fellow competitors this weekend, City of Bristol, came in third. They also won the North of England head race, so it’s fair to say that Royal Chester had garnered a steady momentum that they’ll be aiming to carry them to success through regatta season. Another strong competitor for this event, Royal Chester will be trying to show off this excellent form to its southern rivals.
St Paul’s School BC
The only school club to enter this event won’t daunt this crew. A school and boat club steeped in history, St Pauls BC, like the other entrants, are able to draw motivation from a wealth of wins and successes. The historic rivalry between Eton and St Pauls may not manifest itself in this race (as Eton haven’t entered a boat) but St Pauls BC claiming a win on Eton’s water will serve as a reminder to Eton and other schoolboy crews that St Pauls means business this regatta season.
Thames Rowing Club
With a history of winning in this boat class for Henley Royal Regatta, Thames has a precedence to keep which will surely influence their strategy in winning this race. Having entered two crews into this category and being the one of only two clubs to do so, Thames have already asserted their dominance. Winning the Club Pennant and the Vernon trophy at Head of the River, and the A boat finishing sixth overall, TRC are setting themselves up for another successful regatta season. Having won the Britannia Challenge cup for the past two years at HRR, TRC will be aiming to make this year the hat-trick. The success of their season starts with a win in this race.
Vesta Rowing Club
If this event wasn’t already shaping up to be a battle of the Thames club, throwing Vesta RC into the mix will definitely make it so. Vesta RC are another high-performance club that earns itself some brilliant results throughout the year. The other club entering two boats into this race, VRC are showing that they are serious competition for this event. Previously placing fourth in this event last year redemption is certainly the goal for this club. However, will the presence of crews from Thames RC and London RC jeopardise Vesta’s aim?
Predictions
With top four returners from last years race in Vesta and London, it would be safe to assume they will be very strong competitors coming into this year. The addition of Thames RC into this event throws the cat amongst the pigeons as they’ll be no doubt looking to show the same dominance that we have come to expect. Similarly, with the first spot claimed by a school boy crew last year, St Pauls have every right to assume they could replicate this and bring the Cup back to their already glittering trophy cabinet. Whatever happens, it looks set to be a tough competition.
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