The removal of the lightweight double from the Olympics hasn’t reduced the popularity of the lightweight rowing at the university level with the championship lightweight double seeing a 50% increase in entries compared to the 2024 regatta. With all competitors having to weigh in at 59kg, lightweight events can often be relied on to provide close, exciting racing.
Birmingham University Boat Club
Last year, Birmingham University Boat Club claimed the gold medal in this event before proceeding to EUSA in the summer where they won a bronze medal on the international stage. The lightweight squad has had a strong start to the season having won the lightweight quads event at BUCS Head. Fresh from their easter training camp in Tilburg, Birmingham will be aiming to take the win for a second year in a row.
Cambridge University Boat Club
Cambridge University Boat Club have one of the largest lightweight squads in the UK. Not many universities are able to field a competitive eight of lightweight athletes. At the Women’s Head of the River Race, their eight came 12th in the university category, beating many clubs’ first eights. They’ve also shown proficiency in sculling with Claire Cooper placing sixth in the intermediate lightweight single at BUCS regatta last year before competing in the Godfrey Rowsports Trophy at Henley Women’s Regatta. I’d expect to see at least one of their crews competing for a medal this weekend.
Newcastle University Boat Club
Although Newcastle University Boat Club didn’t enter the lightweight quad at BUCS Head as they prioritised the eights, their lightweight athletes raced in the lightweight coxless four category which they won. If they are able to convert this speed to sculling, they should be on track to claim another medal this weekend. One of their two crews features Alice Metcalf, an accomplished junior sculler who won The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup with Tideway Scullers.
Bath University Boat Club
Bath University Boat Club placed third in the intermediate quad at BUCS Head. That crew included Anna Bradley who races in the Championship Lightweight double this weekend. Bradley has had prior success in lightweight sculling having raced in the Fiona Dennis Trophy at Henley Women’s Regatta and finished as the fourth fastest lightweight sculler at Metropolitan Regatta last year. After a strong result in the intermediate quads at BUCS Head, Bath will be looking for a spot in the A-final this weekend.
Reading University Boat Club
Reading University Boat Club‘s sculling prowess is well known on the university scene. At BUCS Head, they claimed a silver medal in the lightweight quad with one athlete also competing in the intermediate category that won their event. This strong result and the 100% sculling approach of Reading should bring success this weekend.
Predictions
I’d expect these five universities to comprise the A-final with Birmingham University Boat Club to retain their title from the 2024 regatta. Newcastle University Boat Club could provide a strong challenge and Bath University Boat Club or Cambridge University Boat Club seem set to claim the final medal with the depth of their squad giving a slight edge to Cambridge.
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