Poplar Regatta 2025 – Women’s Open Eights Preview

Back for a third year after a hiatus, the Docklands host the popular Poplar Regatta. A race with a plane taking off alongside is undoubtedly a unique experience; many London clubs, as well as further afield, are entered for this weekend. With 12 entries in the Gold category and six in Trophy, the women’s eights competition will be fierce this weekend between some capable clubs and universities.

Oxford Brookes University

An unexpected name to find on this start order, Oxford Brookes have had a turbulent season so far and have not quite lived up to their dominance from the past few years. They lost their championship eight title to Newcastle University at BUCS Regatta last weekend, placing third. The depth of Brookes is still undeniable, though. They placed first and fourth in the intermediate eight, albeit with the University of London hot on their heels. They have two boats racing in the Gold category here and two in the Trophy category.

London Rowing Club

London Rowing Club’s growing women’s squad is becoming a force to be reckoned with; they have three boats entered in the Gold category this weekend, and another in the Trophy. They kicked off their regatta season at Wallingford Regatta last weekend, placing sixth in the final of Challenge Eights, in a crew closely resembling their Wargrave Challenge Cup finalist crew from last season. This weekend, one of their other crews will likely feature athletes challenging for the Aspirational events at Henley Women’s Regatta, so it will be interesting to see how they get on here.

University of London

University of London have had a busy couple of weekends of racing, making the trip over to Ghent last weekend after their success in Nottingham the weekend before. Their first boat overturned Brookes in championship eights at BUCS, earning a silver medal, but was on the other side of the result in intermediate eights, missing out on the gold to Brookes by a second. They also have two eights racing in the Gold category at Poplar, presumably similar crews to BUCS. It will be interesting to see if their additional race experience from Ghent this past weekend has helped further the gap on Brookes, and how they stack up against the clubs racing here.

Vesta Rowing Club

Vesta also have three crews in the Gold category this weekend, like their Embankment neighbours. They may be slightly off the pace of the university crews here; neither of their club eights at Wallingford Regatta made the final. However, they will be curious to see how their pace matches up against London ‘B’ or ‘C’ crews; they will likely be coming up against each other in the Copas Cup for Henley Women’s Regatta, and will be a good early test of speed.

Lea Rowing Club/Mortlake Anglian and Alpha

An eight from Lea and Mortlake round out the Gold category competitors this weekend. These clubs may be off the pace for the win this weekend, but they have both qualified boats into The Wargrave Challenge Cup in recent years. It will be a good early test of speed against some of their competitors regarding Henley Royal Regatta this year.

Prediction

Gold: I think University of London A will hold onto their lead from BUCS Regatta over Oxford Brookes A, with London Rowing Club A hot on their heels.

Trophy: Oxford Brookes, if their crew resembles the fourth-placed intermediate eight from BUCS, should take the win.