With the busiest part of the regatta season now behind us, the British Rowing Club Championships may represent the last race of the season with wide spread entry across the country. With entries from clubs ranging from York to Wallingford as well as local clubs, this may be the last national race of the season before local regattas take hold.
Nottingham County Rowing Association
After taking home the silver medal last year, NCRA will be looking to take it one step further this weekend with a win. Three of the four second placed crew last year will be returning for another run down the track. Training at Holme Pierrepont will mean this crew are well adjusted to the windy conditions that Nottingham tends to provide and should set them up well to perform.
Nottingham Rowing Club
Last year’s winners Nottingham RC return looking for a repeat performance. Like NCRA, three of Nottingham’s crew return this year. Most of this crew have spent regatta season in Nottingham’s eight that managed to qualify for the Wargrave Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta before being knocked out in the first round by Shiplake Vikings. The eight also raced in the D and C final of the championship eights on the Saturday and Sunday of the Metropolitan Regatta respectively. This experience of high level racing as well as plenty of practice of multi lane racing marks Nottingham as one of the favourites.
York City Rowing Club
York had a strong performance in the time trial of the Lester Trophy at Henley Women’s Regatta where they placed 6th. Unfortunately, they were unable to carry this speed through to the side by side racing as they were knocked out in the first round. York City also took wins in the coxless four at Peterborough Spring Regatta and Chester Regatta. This crew is well established and has a lot of experience racing the four together so seem to be well prepared coming into the championships.
Sir William Perkins School
Alongside their top quad, Sir William Perkins fielded a strong eight that qualified for the Peabody Cup at Henley Women’s Regatta and the Prince Phillip Challenge Trophy at Henley Royal Regatta. At Henley Royal Regatta, they won their first round before being knocked out on Wednesday by the eventual winners, Headington. At the England Home International Trials last weekend, Sir William Perkins was very successful with athletes being selected for the junior and Ssnior pairs showing that they can be competitive in senior as well as junior categories and that, as juniors, they shouldn’t be overlooked.
Wallingford Rowing Club
Like Sir William Perkin’s, Wallingford also qualified for the Peabody Cup and the Prince Philip Challenge Trophy. Wallingford beat Sir William Perkins in the first round of the Peabody cup before winning the next round to make it through to the semi finals. This crew features athletes from the first and second eights that raced at National Schools’ Regatta so doesn’t seem to completely represent the top end of the squad and may not be able to replicate their Henley Women’s success.
Prediction
For the medals, I would look to Nottingham Rowing Club to win gold followed closely by Sir William Perkins for silver. In third place, I’d predict York City Rowing Club if they’re able to convert their time trial speed to side by side racing.
