After a long and trying winter campaign, with countless indoor sessions racking up thousands of miles, British collegiate clubs flock to BUCS Regatta in Nottingham every year to put their best foot forward and set the bar high for the remainder of the racing season. The open lightweight doubles feature some of the best lightweight rowers in the country, and this event, despite its omission from future major events, still proves to be one of the most hotly contested and one of the best to watch.
Reading University Boat Club
The mighty Reading University, one of the UK’s fastest growing collegiate clubs, will be wanting to make their mark at the National Watersports Centre this weekend. Under the coaching team of Will Rand and Chris Bartley, Reading has built on their success at the Head of the River Race, achieving countless personal bests across all boat types in recent years, from BUCS competitions to the local Thames races.
Their ‘A’ boat, bowed by Jake Ingham, will be their flagship for this race. Ingham, with a strong performance in last year’s open intermediate double sculls and his ability to consistently deliver when it comes to racing, positions him and his crew well to take on the likes of a brave and bold Cambridge this weekend. This time, their ‘B’ boat, bowed by Edward Ervin, will be looking to keep Reading’s strong momentum over the last few years rolling this weekend.
Birmingham University Boat Club
The powerhouses from the West Midlands at Birmingham University will want to put their best foot forward in Nottingham this weekend to ensure that they are the ones to beat across the summer campaign. Most recently coached by James Wilton and Alex Darby, the club has been having a remarkable string of successes, from Henley Royal Regatta to continued improvements along the Thames Championship Course; Birmingham is on the rise and will want to keep that upward drift going this weekend.
Their ‘A’ boat, bowed by Jonathan Skipper, will be the club’s primary entry in this year’s event. With a strong finish in multiple British Indoor series, Skipper knows how to consistently deliver when the time comes and will be wanting to combine the excellent tutelage received at BUBC with the harmony he and his crewmate deliver to give a strong and respectful performance this weekend. Their ‘B’ entry this year will be led by Henry Prior. With the combination of Prior’s epic strength and the undoubted ability of BUBC to bring the heat, both of these crews will have solid performances this weekend.
Cambridge University Boat Club
Still reeling from their epic Boat Race win, Cambridge will be returning to BUCS this year with a real air of confidence and a spring in their step. With the immensely talented Rob Baker at the helm of Cambridge’s world-class rowing program, there shouldn’t be much stopping the crew from the East from dominating the field. Cambridge’s recent form positions them as strong contenders, though they will face formidable competition. The team showcased exceptional coordination and power in their recent Boat Race triumph, and with a roster of skilled athletes, Cambridge’s lightweight men’s double is poised to make a significant impact at BUCS Regatta.
Queen’s University Belfast
The team from across the sea will want to make their trip worthwhile, and there’s no doubt they’ll do just that. With ‘A’ and ‘B’ crews entered under McKinley and Graham, respectively, the two doubles from across the water will certainly make a strong impression in Great Britain this weekend. With expert guidance and supervision from John Armstrong and Ryan Carney from the coaching launch, the scullers making the long journey to the English heartland of Nottingham must be watched as they could deliver an unexpectedly strong performance this weekend. With an increasing presence on the British Rowing scene, the team from Queen’s gains extra racing experience from both Irish competition and British endeavours. The Irishmen will want to take this advantage, blend it with their technique and brute power to deliver a strong result this weekend – and if the wind blows fair, it could be theirs for the taking.
Predictions
This race will surely be a hotly contested and impressive fight to the line. However, when the time comes and the bow balls get going, I expect Cambridge to cross the line first, followed by a second-place battle from Reading ‘A‘ and Birmingham.
For this all-too-neglected event, I wish these crews the very best of luck and encourage you all to keep an eye on the fascinating world of lightweight rowing in this coming season.
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