This weekend, the 2025 Metropolitan Regatta will return to Dorney Lake, promising to showcase a competitive field in the Women’s Coxed Fours categories. With nearly fifty crews entered from Championship, Club, and Academic categories, margins will be close, and all will be competing for spots in the A-final. This preview will examine crews across these categories and highlight the top crews to watch.
Championship Crews
Dublin University Ladies BC IRE
Dublin University Ladies saw impressive results last year, with a 3rd place finish at Metropolitan Regatta on the Saturday and winning the club coxed four at the Irish Rowing Championships in 2024. This year, they have continued this momentum with a strong performance at Trinity Regatta 2025, University Championships and Commercial Regatta, claiming victories across senior, intermediate, and club coxed fours. Dublin University Ladies BC will be looking to continue this success at the Metropolitan Regatta and challenge for the top spot.
Neptune Rowing Club IRE
Neptune Rowing Club also had a strong performance at last year’s Metropolitan Regatta, finishing second on Saturday and securing first place on Sunday. This club has a legacy of producing national champions, and so will be putting everything into defending their title across the weekend in Dorney. But will this be enough to secure them the gold medal again against some exceptional crews this year?
Durham University Boat Club
Durham University Boat Club has historically been a fierce competitor in regatta season, finishing 2nd on Sunday at last year’s Metropolitan Regatta, and winning the coxless four category at Henley Women’s Regatta. This year, they secured first place in the A final at the BUCS Regatta in the women’s championship coxed four. With this recent success, Durham will be hungry to claim the top spot at the Metropolitan Regatta, and they are certainly a crew to watch.
University College Dublin Ladies Boat Club
University College Dublin Ladies has had a strong season so far, winning the senior coxed four and securing third in the intermediate coxed four at Skibbereen Regatta. Their recent success in Irish Regatta’s shows that they are a force to be reckoned with in the Women’s Coxed Four category and will be one to watch at Metropolitan Regatta.
Club Crews
Vesta Rowing Club
Vesta Rowing Club has been performing well both on the national and international stage, with two senior women’s boats racing at Heineken Roeivierkamp 2025. Their crews finished second and 11th overall against tough Dutch and international competition. They also secured second place at Poplar Regatta 2025 and have entered three crews into the club category for the Metropolitan Regatta, a testament to the depth of their squad. With multiple entries and recent international experience, Vesta will be a strong contender in the club women’s coxed fours.
Cantabrigian Rowing Club
During the head season, Cantabrigian Rowing Club secured 45th overall and third place in the Provisional Club category at Women’s Eights Head of the River (WEHORR). They have also had a strong start to regatta season, finishing third in the Women’s Club coxed fours at Wallingford Regatta. Cantabrigian Rowing Club are known to be a fierce competitor and so will be aiming for a top finish on Saturday.
Derby Rowing Club
Having won the Provincial Small Club Pennant at WEHORR, Derby Rowing Club has continued this success into regatta season, finishing one second faster than Cantabrigian Rowing Club in the women’s club coxed fours at Wallingford Regatta to claim silver. They will be looking to stay ahead of Cantabrigian Rowing Club on Saturday, so expect some close racing between these two crews.
Academic Crews
Edinburgh University BC
Edinburgh University Boat Club has been incredibly successful this season, securing an impressive 12 medals across various events at BUCS regatta 2025. Their intermediate coxed four finished in third place in this regatta. With their strong results so far, Edinburgh University is one of the top academic crews to watch, and they will be looking to transfer their success at Nottingham into their racing at Dorney.
Oxford Brookes University BC
Oxford Brookes is the leading university rowing program in the UK, known for their consistent excellence in rowing across all categories. At the BUCS Regatta, they finished first and fourth in the intermediate eights category, highlighting the depth of their squad. With two strong entries, Oxford Brookes University will be highly competitive in the women’s coxed fours and will aim to secure top positions at the Metropolitan Regatta.
Prediction
The 2025 Metropolitan Regatta in the women’s coxed fours categories promises to be fiercely contested, with top crews from Ireland, the UK, and beyond all gunning for victory. Dublin University Ladies stand out in the championship category, Derby RC are poised to challenge in the club category, and Oxford Brookes University will be tough to beat in the academic category. With such a high level of competition, it’s anyone’s race, but these crews are certainly the ones to keep an eye on in the A-Final.
About The Author
Discover more from JRN
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
