Image Credit: British Rowing
BRIC 2025 returns to Birmingham’s NEC for its third year, and with no returners from last season, both the U23 and senior lightweight fields are wide open. In the U23 category, the majority of entries come from novices, setting the stage for fresh faces to make their mark. With so many newcomers and no clear favourite, the spotlight will fall on who can handle the pressure when racing begins.
U23 Entries
Eva Bolton-Lake and Lilli Doubler (Hartpury University)
Both representing Hartpury University’s novice programme, one of the standout entries in this category is Eva Bolton-Lake. She has already made her mark on the indoor circuit this season, finishing second overall in the beginner women’s 1k at the BUCS Indoor Rowing Championships. Her teammate, Lilli Doubler, also impressed with an eighth-place finish, giving the pair valuable race experience heading into the competition. The question now is whether their proven speed over 1k can translate into the discipline and control needed to deliver over the full 2k distance.
Ella Jones (University Of York Boat Club)
Another strong performer from the BUCS Indoor Championships is Ella Jones from the University of York Boat Club. Jones delivered an impressive race to secure third place, finishing just 3.5 seconds behind Hartpury’s Eva Bolton-Lake. With such a narrow margin separating them over 1k, Jones will no doubt arrive at BRIC with unfinished business and with a clear target in sight.
Jessica Milburn (Lancaster University)
Contrary to many of the other known entries, Jessica Milburn has been seen racing on water at BUCS Regatta 2025 in the beginner women’s coxed four, where they placed in the D-final. Entering her second year of rowing, this previous 2k racing experience may give her some much-needed confidence and familiarity for this event.
Lightweight Entries
Catherine Jackson (Worcester Rowing Club)
A clear favourite in the lightweight field is Catherine Jackson. No stranger to side-by-side racing, she secured an impressive second place in the championship lightweight single at this year’s British Rowing Club Championships. Earlier in the season, she also claimed victory in the Aspirational Lightweight Single at Henley Women’s Regatta. With a formidable résumé in lightweight rowing already to her name, the question now is, can she add BRIC Champion to the list?
Prediction
With so many unfamiliar names in the field, predicting a finishing order for these events is no easy task. The return of the GB women’s senior team to the arena sets a high benchmark, offering rising athletes a rare chance to measure themselves against the very best on the indoor stage. On the lightweight side, I cannot see past Catherine Jackson taking the win this weekend. At the U23 level, Hartpury University appears to have positioned itself well, sending several athletes to the BUCS indoor championships and providing them with valuable experience under race pressure. As a result, it would be no surprise to see multiple Hartpury athletes feature near the top of the leaderboard.
A close contest is expected between Eva Bolton-Lake and Ella Jones, whose BUCS performances suggest another tight battle over 2k. Yet, with the accessibility of indoor rowing and the number of untested entries on the start list, the possibility of a breakout performance from an unknown contender cannot be ruled out. In a field this open, the win is truly anyone’s for the taking.
