While university students battle it out at BUCS this weekend, many of the UK’s club and school rowing scene will descend onto Eton Dorney for the first time this season to battle it out for a chance at putting their statement of intent for the year. Pairs are amongst the smaller boat classes taking to Dorney lake and there is a real pedigree of entries on show this year and with three heats on offer before the final can be decided, I’m sure a compelling battle for those coveted places will take place.
Oxford Brookes University BC
With many students and shells at BUCS, Brookes have entered their nine students into five pairs, with the help of Oxford rower James Doran. The old-Dulwich schoolboy will be making his way down the track this weekend with Matt Heywood in his bow seat, both hoping to further prove why they should be the pair at the upcoming World Cup Three regatta. Trying to get the better of their Wallingford rival will be the pairing of Louis Nares with Jake Wincomb. With no end of U23 experience between them and both in their last year, could this be an opportunity to get one over on the older and more experienced members of their squad. With close times in training it should be a real spectacle for all spectators
Shiplake College BC
With no names on the draw to judge off, the speed of this Shiplake crew remains to be seen. However, as usual, they have produced a high calibre of athlete this season. William Harper, who’s performance in the pair at Junior Trials recently got him selected for the team that will be competing at the Munich Regatta this year, is just one example of this. This year, Shiplake lost out on the top spot at School’s Head of the River by ten seconds to St Pauls and they will be looking to prove they have gained back some speed this weekend, ahead of National Schools’ Regatta at the end of May.
Tideway Scullers School
Another renowned name in the rowing scene Scullers has often turned its hand to the other side and put out some sweep rowing crews. They have three crews entered this year, the second most after Brookes and are coming off the back of a 43rd overall place at Head of the River. They have no doubt been training to push themselves further up the field, and Wallingford represents the perfect opportunity to do just that.
Wallingford Rowing Club
A staple club on the smaller side, the rowers from Wallingford will certainly be wanting to put on a performance to be proud of at their home race. While training on the same stretch as the Brookes rowers they should also be able to identify which pairings might be their competition come this weekend and will hopefully use that to their advantage going into this race.
Predictions
Not to sound too cliche, but based off the track record and strength of the programme, I predict the Doran/Heywood and Nares/Wincomb combinations from Oxford Brookes to race it the whole way down the track for the win. With the other three Brookes pairs not far behind having a tussle with some of the faster schoolboy crews entered, and the likes of one of the Tideway Scullers crews close behind.
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