For the first time this year, the bank holiday extravaganza of university rowing is spread over four days. BUCS has also continued the change from 2024 of removing the semi-finals from intermediate events. This should allow many of the 41 entries in the women’s intermediate pair to get a side-by-side race, all to play for in the time trial.
Edinburgh University Boat Club
The ladies from North of the border have two pairs entered here. Josephine Briggs had a meteoric rise through Edinburgh University Boat Club‘s novice programme in the 22-23 season, winning the Frank V Harry Cup at Henley Women’s Regatta and representing Scotland at Home Internationals. She has since then been a stalwart of Edinburgh’s first eight, and part of the crew who placed 14th at Women’s Head of the River Race. They will likely contest the A-final and want to challenge for the podium here, aiming to surpass Edinburgh’s bronze in this category last year.
Cambridge University Boat Club
Fresh off yet another near clean sweep in the Boat Race, Cambridge University Boat Club will be looking for more of the same victorious feeling against other universities, as well as their rivals in dark blue again this weekend. They have a couple of pairs entered in the championship category, as well as a singular intermediate pair. Becky Ashford, the three seat of the winning Blondie crew, will definitely be wanting to take home a medal here, and given Cambridge’s form this year they will surely be in contention.
Durham University Boat Club
The silver medalists in 2024, Durham University Boat Club look to have plentiful entries across the board for this weekend, perhaps looking to replicate their Victor Ludorum win of 2023. They have four pairs entered here, one of the more notable names on the start order being Antonia Warner who was a part of the crew who won the Aspirational Academic coxless four last season at Henley Women’s Regatta and at BUCS Head in February this season. It would not be surprising to see some palatinate on the podium here.
Newcastle University Boat Club
With a stellar regatta season last year, seven of the eight rowers who formed Newcastle University Boat Club‘s Island Challenge Cup crew return this year and look to be continuing to go from strength to strength, with victory in Women’s Championship eight at BUCS Head and 12th place at Women’s Head of the River. Annie Bates, a member of that crew, is the most notable name on Newcastle’s three pairs on the start order for this weekend. She and her pair’s partner will be looking to retain the gold medal won in this category by some of her Blue Star crewmates last year.
Oxford University Boat Club
After defeat on the Tideway a few weeks ago, Oxford University Boat Club will seek to salvage some pride and more positive results through this regatta season. They have three pairs entered in this category at the weekend, and the names on the start order consist of athletes in their Osiris reserve crew, such as Harriet Cooper. Oxford’s resilience will stand them in good stead, and they will want to put a boat in the A-final here, but may be slightly off the podium pace.
Imperial College Boat Club
Imperial College Boat Club have past form in Championship pairs at BUCS Regatta, winning gold in 2022, 2023 and a silver in 2024. Whilst their two pairs entered in the intermediate category here may not quite be on pace for a medal, I can see them contesting the A-final.
Predictions
I think Newcastle University Boat Club has a strong chance of winning this event. Cambridge University Boat Club and Durham University Boat Club will battle for the remaining podium spots.
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