BUCS regatta marks the advent of regatta season for most universities, and this year it is bigger and better than ever. With an extra day of racing, more rowers get a chance to race multiple times, only increasing the competitiveness of each event. As with all intermediate events, the quads now do not have semi-finals, so putting down a good race in the time trial is essential for success. With an immense 45 entries this year, the margins between crews will be tiny, so every second will count. Like most of the sculling events, Reading University BC have been the dominant force in recent years, but can another crew get one-over them this year? Let’s see who the main contenders are.
Reading University BC
With a dominance over the quad events only bettered by Oxford Brookes’ unbeaten run in the eights events, Reading University come to BUCS Regatta as out and out favourites for this event. As one of only a few programmes in the country that only scull, they can focus solely on BUCS, and then Henley Royal, over a racing year. This already gives them an advantage over other institutions, and then add to that the quality of athletes they attract, Reading University are an almost unstoppable force. At BUCS Head this year, they secured an incredible 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place finish in the intermediate quads, as well as two medals in the championship category. This shows a huge strength in depth, highlighted by their 7 crews they have entered to race this Sunday. You would be unwise to bet against Reading to take the win, but racing isn’t always as simple as the form guide says.
Newcastle University BC
As always, the ‘Blue Star’ club bring a large entry for BUCS Regatta, with aims to do the double by winning the overall Victor Lodorum, after winning it at BUCS Head. Predominantly known for their prowess in sweep rowing, Newcastle University have three quads entered in this intermediate quads category. At BUCS Head, they secured a credible 6th place finish, behind the four Reading crews and the Nottingham 1st quad. With there only being 2 other heavyweight senior men’s events on the Sunday, coupled by the absence of a championship quad, means that some of their top first and eight 8 rowers will likely be racing in these intermediate quads. Given this, and Newcastle’s tough high-intensity training programme, their top quad could well be in the mix for a medal.
Nottingham University BC
Hoping to gain some home advantage, Nottingham University have two strong crews entered into the intermediate quads. A rowing programme that probably does more sculling than the average university, they have attained some decent results in Head season. They were the ‘best of the rest’ at BUCS Head, with their two crews placing 5th and 7th behind the four Reading University boats. They will be looking to avenge last year’s BUCS Regatta result, with their intermediate quads cruelly missing out on A-final by just a few places. With this field of crews being so competitive, will they have the extra 1% to finish in those top ranks?
Other Entries
Durham University BC always seem to peak for BUCS events, and with two crews entered here, you would expect a strong showing from their ‘A’ boat. In recent years, the University of Birmingham BC have gone from strength to strength. Their senior men set a new club record at Head of the River this year, so can they transfer their speed to the quad? Edinburgh University had the best-placed second eight at Head of the River, and with this as anything to go by, the quad that is entered should be gunning for the top places in this event.
Prediction
1st Reading University ‘A’
2nd Reading University ‘B’
3rd Newcastle University ‘A’
The top two Reading University boats at BUCS head were so far ahead of the competition that I cannot see any other crew getting close to them. Newcastle will grab 3rd place, with the other A final slots being closely fought out between Durham, Nottingham, Reading ‘C’ and Birmingham.
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