Regatta season is well and truly underway. With BUCS Regatta now behind us, racing will return to the National Water Sports Centre for Nottingham City Regatta on Saturday, 10th May. Raced over two kilometres and across six lanes, this event offers valuable side-by-side experience as clubs transition from head season into summer’s shorter races.
Only two crews are entered in the Women’s Championship Eights category, but both bring lots of experience from the winter and spring campaigns, ensuring some close racing on the weekend.
City of Oxford Rowing Club
City of Oxford Rowing Club have had an impressive season and come into this race as favourites. They kicked off the year with a win at Quintin Head in the Women’s Intermediate category, finishing as the fastest non-Championship women’s crew. They followed that with a fourth-place finish in the Women’s Championship Eights category at the Head of the Trent, and they came 39th at the Women’s Eights Head of the River Race (WEHORR), placing them ninth in the Senior Club category, with an impressive time of 20:17.9.
Most recently, they claimed the women’s headship at the 2025 City Bumps in Oxford, a race unique to Oxford and Cambridge where crews are set off one and a half lengths behind each other, aiming to catch and bump the crew ahead. It is a race that requires tactics, speed and a determined mindset, making it ideal preparation for the intensity of multi-lane regatta racing. City of Oxford will be looking to continue this mentality and momentum in Nottingham.
Tyne Amateur Rowing Club
Tyne Amateur Rowing Club also put in a strong showing throughout the head season. They finished second in the Women’s Eights at Tyne Head, while their Masters Women’s crew secured a category win. At Head of the Trent, they placed just behind City of Oxford in sixth, also in the Women’s Championship Eights category, so they will be looking to close this gap. Their WEHORR performance saw them finish 60th overall and fifth in the Provincial Club category, with a time of 20:38.2.
With solid results and consistency across the events at the beginning of the year, Tyne has demonstrated their strength and depth, so they won’t let Oxford walk away without a fight.
Predictions
City of Oxford Rowing Club enters as the favourites. Overall, A stronger head season combined with achieving headship at City Bumps has proven their tactical and psychological advantage, giving them the edge over Tyne. But, over a shorter course and with just two boats in the race, it could come down to execution on the day. Expect a fast, focused race as these two experienced eights battle it out over two kilometres in Nottingham.
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