With BUCS expanding to four days of racing, there is fresh excitement about this unique event for university rowers. For some, it will be the opener to an exciting regatta season, while for others, it is the pinnacle of their rowing experience. The intermediate eights provide a clash of these two groups as the lower-ranked crews from top institutions face off against the top crews from small and medium-sized programmes.
Oxford Brookes University
The dominant force in British university rowing, Oxford Brookes University have an unrivalled depth compared to any programmes on this side of the Atlantic. Last time, they picked up all three medals in the event, with the sixth-ranked student crew in their stable managing to finish eighth in the intermediate category. There has been well-documented disruption this season, but with six crews among their student and open groups placing ahead of the next best crew expected to race in this category, they are well set to continue their success this weekend.
University of Edinburgh
After years of dominating north of the border, the University of Edinburgh have not disguised their intention to move up in the rankings against their English rivals. To this end, they have changed how they operate this season, shrinking their squads to focus their coaching attention. As such, we expect only one entry from the baby blue army in this event. So far this season, this has seen some success in improving their results, with the second eight winning the intermediate category at BUCS Head as well as placing as the best ‘B’ crew in the Bernard Churcher Trophy at the Head of the River Race. If they can continue this form, they may be able to get in on the Brookes party on Saturday’s medal pontoon.
Newcastle University
At the Head of the River, the crews from Newcastle University were just behind those of Edinburgh. The first eight was just 0.2 seconds away from taking the inaugural Scott Skirving Trophy, while their second crew’s 35th-place finish was the second best among university reserve crews. This weekend, they hope to step up and become the best of the rest in Saturday’s showdown to improve their regatta positioning from last year. In the 2024 season, the Blue Star won intermediate gold at BUCS Head, and they were the best-placed non-Brookes crew at BUCS Regatta before failing to qualify their lower crews for Henley Royal Regatta. With a weaker start this year, winning bronze on home water, they aim to have a positive movement through this summer’s racing.
Other Second Eights
The rest of the championship field will have their lower boats entered here and should likely dominate the first couple of finals. Durham University won silver at BUCS Head on their home water in this category before an underperformance on the Tideway. Bristol will want to prove they can match the depth of their championship rivals, backing up their fourth-place finish in the category at BUCS Head. The University of London did not race on the Tyne, and a 65th-place finish on their home water against national competition could raise concerns about a lack of depth in Chiswick.
First Eights
Beyond the big-name second boats, this category is also a place to demonstrate that medium-sized university programmes can boast competitive lineups in the fastest boat class and compete for the title of ‘best of the rest’. The University of Glasgow, last year’s winners of this title, will not enter a men’s eight this year, so the battle opens up to new competition. The University of Birmingham seems most likely to claim the honour, finishing tenth overall at BUCS Head to accompany a strong showing at the Head of the River Race, but were bested by the University of Bath on the tideway. The latter will be weakened by some development academy athletes prioritising the single, but remain a contender for that title. Queen’s Belfast and Surrey have both had strong results in the beginner categories and will want to move up their physically talented members. It is also worth looking out for the Oxford and Cambridge development groups to mix things up.
Prediction
With a one-two-three finish last year, I would back Oxford Brookes to claim at least two medals for the second successive year, with the remaining medal going to the strong University of Edinburgh group, though I would love if Birmingham could shake things up among the bigger names.
