Bedford Regatta 2025 – Women’s Senior Coxed Fours Preview

Bedford Regatta features a side-by-side knockout race over 1200m, which will certainly bring some excitement this weekend. The women’s coxed four has entries featuring junior, academic, and club rowers across the four crews. Therefore, likely having not raced against each other this year, it will make the event all the more exciting to watch unfold.

City of Cambridge

City of Cambridge’s women have had a very successful first part to the season, with their first eight placing 35th at the Women’s Head of the River Race and narrowly missing out on the Provincial Club pennant by less than half a second. Their speed has continued into the regatta season, recently placing third in the club eight category at Wallingford Regatta just this past weekend. The only uncertainty regarding this crew is perhaps racing within the coxed four, an event in which we have yet to see recent performances. However, their confidence lies in the proven speed in the eight, which, if this is anything to go by, should easily place them as the crew to beat at Bedford.

University of East Anglia

The University of East Anglia was another crew racing this past weekend, competing at BUCS Regatta, marking regatta season in full swing. Their top coxed four made it to the intermediate coxed four C-final and qualified a second boat into the G-final. Although they placed further back in the field compared to the City of Cambridge at the Women’s Head of the River Race, finishing 106th, they have hopefully found some increased speed in the months since then. They should be confident going into this event following their performance last weekend at BUCS.

Bedford Modern School

The younger entrants in this category also commenced their regatta season this past weekend at the Junior Sculling Regatta. Bedford Modern School placed 13th in the women’s Junior 18 quad. Within sweep, they have seen a notable tenth place in the girls’ school eight back at the Schools’ Head of the River, finishing off their head season in good shape. This weekend will provide prime preparation to test their speed.

Bedford Girls School

Unlike many of their competition, this appears to be the first regatta for Bedford Girls School this season. They have seen a mix of results this year, placing 34th at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head, and 125th at the Women’s Head of the River Race. Ahead of this weekend, they will likely be planning to put in a strong performance to commence their regatta season in hopes of building on last year’s performance at National Schools’ Regatta, placing 11th and 13th in the championship girls coxed fours.

Prediction
The City of Cambridge have had some strong results so far this season – I can see them taking the win here over the University of East Anglia in the final. The junior crews will definitely be looking to cause an upset, though.