The start of BUCS Regatta always confirms that summer has really begun. The weekend never fails to deliver some of the most exciting racing of the year, kicking off regatta season in style. This year’s extension from three to four days promises to be no different, as the best University rowers from across the country do battle. The Women’s Championship Pair falls on the Saturday, with 10 crews competing. Last year’s victor was decided by 0.07 of a second and if the 2025 event is even half as close we could be in for some of the tightest racing of the weekend.
Cambridge
Cambridge have three crews entered. Whilst their training is likely to have been somewhat sporadic since the Boat Race, they will undoubtably still be full of confidence and fitness since their triumph. Their A crew is formed of Samantha Morton Van Eybergen and Tash Morrice. The pair have already competed this season, placing 16th at February Trials. Both have experience in the small boat; Morton was a reserve for the Australian Olympic team last season and won the Hambleden Pairs at Henley Royal. Morrice was part of the British Senior team in 2023, racing in the pair alongside the eight at World Cups. This mix could prove an exciting prospect. Cambridge’s B crew contains Gemma King, a previous boat race winner and seasoned BUCS competitor. Her talent and experience means she can never be written off, whatever crew she is in.
Durham
Durham’s two crews are formidable. Daisy Jackson and Isadora Kennedy are defending champions. This partnership have stayed together this season and must be seen as favourites heading into the weekend. They have already raced at both February and April Trials and will have learnt important lessons at both. They placed 17th in the latter just three weeks ago, so will want to have found speed in the interlude between races. Their B crew will likely be hot on their heels, such is the talent of the Durham women’s squad. Expect both to be in a tightly contested final.
Edinburgh
Another university to have entered two crews, Edinburgh’s pairs will also be fiercely competitive. Penny Irvine and Katie Robertson placed 11th at Trials recently, beating multiple other BUCS eligible crews, including Jackson and Kennedy. This will be a huge confidence boost heading into this weekend and important experience. Repeating that result must surely be the target this weekend. Their other pair cannot be written off, especially given the strength and experience of Edinburgh’s rowing programme. Both could be in the A final.
Imperial; St Andrews
Whilst the traditionally big rowing universities dominate this event entry wise, the smaller programmes are never ones to be written off in pairs racing. Imperial are one such case. Laura Ellington has been on the podium in this boat class two years in a row at BUCS, winning gold in 2023 and silver in 2024. She will want to continue this medal streak and add to her haul for Imperial this year. Likewise St Andrew’s Sophia Isseberner and Ava Giangrasso will want to cause an upset. Isseberner was 16th at trials in a composite pair just three weeks ago, and is a talent to look out for. She will want to replicate this form in a new pairing this weekend.
Prediction
With 10 crews entered and 6 final spots available, the semi-finals of this event could be a tight tussle. In the final expect the top three to be made up of Durham’s Jackson and Kennedy, Cambridge’s Morton and Morrice and Edinburgh’s Irvine and Robertson. In what order could be anyone’s guess, pairs rowing in particular can be so unpredictable so expect it to be exciting right until the last stroke.
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