As the final multilane event where crews can pre-qualify for Henley Royal Regatta, Marlow Regatta holds significant weight. It allows crews to race side by side and test their speed under full-pressure conditions before moving into matched racing. Coming shortly after the Metropolitan Regatta, this event enables Henley Royal Regatta hopefuls to benchmark themselves against direct rivals, with many already familiar faces across the circuit. Strategy and execution will be key as margins are often tight, and results here could determine who earns pre-qualification spots for the big one in just ten days’ time.
Agecroft Rowing Club
Fielding two crews in this event, Agecroft are not leaving anything to chance. With a solid reputation at the local and national level, it will be exciting to see if they will also attempt a Wyfold Challenge Cup qualification as well as The Britannia Challenge Cup.
Their recent performance at the Metropolitan Regatta saw them finish fourth in the D-final, and unfortunately, they slipped down the ranks for Sunday’s racing, where their coxless four finished eighth in the D-final. Whilst these results in isolation may not be hugely encouraging, it shows how competitive this boat class is. Finishing 12th out of 30 crews isn’t bad going, but knowing how competitive this field is, Agecroft will need to produce some exceptional times this weekend to stay in contention. With tensions set to be high this weekend as everyone gears up for Henley Royal Regatta qualifiers, this may be something easier said than done.
Marlow Rowing Club
Current holders of The Wyfold Challenge Cup, Marlow come into this event with targets on their backs. Having beaten Thames RC to the most prestigious club coxless four title in the land, Marlow must provide the same level of appetite this time round to retain their Trophy.
Having finished fifth in the final of this event at the Metropolitan Regatta, they are pulling competitive times but falling short of the times rivals such as Thames and Brookes are providing. However, it is only seconds that split crews, showing just how tight racing was. With many crews also racing this weekend at Marlow, it’s very much expected that this event will provide scintillating racing right to the line. The pressure will be on Marlow to see if their form will hold under this pressure, or will their rivals take advantage of their deficiencies?
Oxford University A and B
Now here’s a couple crew that’s a surprise to be in the Tier 2 rather than Championship. We’ve seen the dark blues in action earlier in in the season at the Metropolitan Regatta, bursting back onto the scene and beating Thames in the final by just over a second. On that occasion the triumphant combination was; Felix Rawlinson, Tass von Mueller, James Doran, and Nico Kohl. For Marlow, their top boat has one change with Nicholas Rusher coming into the lineup instead of Doran. However, he’ll be joined by Tom Rigney, Paolo Cicuta and Tom Sharrock to create an equally formidable roster. Both these crews are packed with international and Boat race experience and will be incredibly tough to beat this weekend. I expect to see them at the top of the Championship field, let alone Tier 2.
Tideway Scullers School
When reading through the entry list, I must confess I leaned forward when seeing Laurence Joss was stroking this TSS combination. It’s an exciting one as the Syracuse graduate and U23 European medallist teams up with Nicholas Challinor-Halford, Temple University graduate Adam Oliver, as well as Scotland international Kieran Brown who’s raced his fair share of Henleys.
Northwich Rowing Club
As a junior, George Lawton was worth his weight in gold as a sculler and after graduating from Reading University, he has continued to be a servant to Northwich. This club have been in fine form this season and raced well on Saturday at Met. A solid time trial saw them racing in the B Final where they would ultimately finish fifth. Expect good things from this crew as they continue to find speed in the closing weeks of the season.
Prediction
The coxless fours are always an intensely competitive and fast event. With many crews vying for the last pre-qualifying places at Henley Royal Regatta, there will surely be a lot of close racing. I have found crews that threaten to make the podium particularly difficult to predict, as Tier 2 often has a greater range of crews than the championship or academic level. However, I’d anticipate Oxford to top the rankings this weekend.
