The Morning Session
9am - 12.20pm
Welcome back!
No big shocks or upsets in the first 35 races of the day - and for over two years - as the Regatta returned to the water. The session began in beautiful conditions, became a little breezy as it went on and the favourites and dark horses, were quickly into their stride.
History was made with race 31 as Enniskillen Royal Boat Club and Shrewsbury School contested the first race of the inaugural Junior Women’s Eights (JW8) – one of the three new events this year – all women’s and all eights.
Shrewsbury, who have barely been seen as an eight this year are definitely one to watch, they smoothly took control, changing gear at the top the island and were two lengths clear at Barrier. Technique and power.
That is a combination of words that will be applied many times this week to Oxford Brookes University boats as they line up an historic Regatta.
Their “B” boats look formidable and in the 35th and last race of the session In the Prince Albert (men’s coxed fours) the Oxford Brookes “B” boat dominated Aberdeen University from the start, went nearly two lengths clear by Barrier and won by three.
Earlier, in race 16, the Brookes “A” quad had unsurprisingly swept aside Oxford University Lightweight Rowing Club.
The Tideway Scullers School also flexed the depth of their club with their “B” crew in race 20 as they beat Hampton School in the Fawley Challenge Cup (Junior men’s quad). Hampton normally focus on the eight, but look to have stacked the four this season, and they chased Tideway to the line but defeat may have been a bit of a blow.