Metropolitan Regatta 2025 – Open Coxed Fours Preview

As we edge closer and closer to Henley Royal Regatta, the Metropolitan Regatta provides us with one of the few chances we get to see the potential contenders for both The Britannia Challenge Cup and The Prince Albert Challenge Cup battle it out. Many crews have recent multilane racing experience either at Dorney or Nottingham, so they will be taking their experience and lessons and applying them all. So, how do the championship open coxed fours stack up?

University of London Boat Club

Having a notably successful season so far, University of London are storming through, winning golds and putting their names on the map. From coming 11th overall and second in the university category at the Head of the River Race to putting athletes through GB trials, their squad has strength and depth. At the start of the regatta season, they saw gold in the championship event for the pair, coxless four and importantly, the coxed four at BUCS. They then went to Ghent, where they took even more medals, including gold in the men’s coxed and coxless fours. Their success at Ghent even awarded them the Senior Club award for the Belgian National Championships. With lots of gold medals and racing experience now in the bank, it leaves the University of London as a top contender for the gold in this event.

Thames Rowing Club

With two crews entered both days, Thames are a force to be reckoned with. With the past few years dominating in the club events at Henley Royal Regatta, their program shows their capability to produce world-class athletes and win where it matters. With a second place at Wallingford regatta in the coxed fours and a third place overall at Head of the River Race, Thames are in a good position of confidence in beating their opposition. Having just come off a camp in Ourense, Galicia, Spain, they will no doubt want to take their hard work into the regatta season and see how they stack up against some of the university crews they have yet to face in the multi-lane arena.

Royal Chester Rowing Club

Royal Chester are entered into both days of this event, with eyes on the A-final. Most recently, they took to Wallingford Regatta, where they placed third in their heat, only two and a half seconds behind the Thames ‘B’ crew, but unfortunately had to scratch before the final. At Henley Royal Regatta last year, their Britannia Challenge Cup campaign took them to the Sunday, only to lose to a strong Thames crew by just one length. They will surely want to prove their strength this year and use this regatta as a chance to put down what they can and test their speed.

Molesey

Racing both days, Molesey are a strong contender for the medals. They took fifth place at the Wallingford regatta in the coxed fours, just under three seconds behind the Thames ‘A’ crew. This close positioning places them up with the top crews fighting for gold. Their gold medals in the men’s club coxed four and eight showcase their club’s ability to knuckle down and fight for gold. In The Britannia Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta last year, Molesey were knocked out on the Friday by the eventual runners-up of Royal Chester, and so will inevitably be wanting to prove their dominance over the crew, and will want to fight the Thames crew given they did not cross paths in last year’s Henley Royal Regatta.

London Rowing Club

London, with the same crew racing both days, has showcased their strength in the past couple of years with class displays of fast rowing at Henley Royal Regatta and other events. While they struggled at Wallingford Regatta, coming fourth in the heats, they have since bounced back to take some medals. At Poplar Regatta, London took silver and bronze in the open gold coxed fours plus gold, silver and bronze in the open gold coxless fours, and a silver in the open gold eights. This experience will help fill them with the confidence and knowledge they need to help them reach the A-final and be in with the chance of medalling. Coming off of a camp in Varese, only time will tell if their hard work has paid off and they got the speed they need.

Marlow Rowing Club

Racing both days with the same crew lineup, Marlow are a presence with a purpose. Having been on a big surge the past few years, growing in size and strength, they have been getting results worth discussing. Last year, they had a strong season, culminating in their Wyfold crew winning at Henley Royal Regatta, and with their Britannia crew knocked out in a close race on the Friday by the eventual winners. Recently, Marlow raced at Wallingford Regatta, where they placed a respectable fifth in the club coxed fours. Their Dorney experience will be useful as they come into this event.

Newcastle University Boat Club

Coming through a strong season with lots of results, Newcastle University is a good bet for A-finalists. The Victor Ludorum winners at BUCS regatta and BUCS Head this year, their open championship coxed four claimed silver at BUCS Regatta, eight seconds behind the strong University of London crew. Showing their strength and success this season, I believe they have done the work they need to be in with the UK’s top crews.

Predictions

This will be a great final, with Thames and the University of London emerging as top contenders for the gold. While I expect the margin to be very tight, I believe that Thames will just beat out the University of London for gold, with Molesey not far behind in third. Newcastle University will take fourth, and London behind in fifth.