Metropolitan Regatta 2024 - Open Championship Eight Preview

I need to admit something. I came back from Dorney Lake an hour ago, just finished writing a review for the National Schools' Regatta that's over 1000 words long, and I can hear Southampton fans cheering in the distance. It's a long bank holiday night and their cries are strangely appealing. I want to say sorry beforehand if this preview isn't filled with JRN's typical blend of cleverness, comprehension, and progressive forecasting analysis.

Thames is the top club rowing team in the UK and is considered the standard for all institutions in the Thames, Wyfold, Britannia, and Wargrave Challenge Cups. They will start second in the time-trial and hope to increase the distance between them and their Putney-based rivals who aren't racing this weekend. Thames has their sights set on winning the Thames Challenge Cup and the Metropolitan Regatta is an important measure of their progress towards success at Henley Royal Regatta. Winning in this category outright is a priority for the Thames team.

Recently winning a national title on the same lake, St Paul's junior rowing team has been impressively leading the pack in 2024. Although they were only a second behind Thames at Wallingford, if they can catch up with Sander Smulder's team, it will be a significant improvement from just four weeks ago. Unfortunately, without the other medalists from the National Schools’ Regatta, St Paul's won't have much data on the speed of their opponents at the Henley Royal Regatta. However, competing against some of the quickest club and student boats is still an excellent opportunity for the team.

Durham had a great achievement by winning the bronze medal at BUCS Regatta, coming in third place after two boats from Brookes University. They had some issues within their team this season, but managed to prove themselves after winning at BUCS Head a few months ago. They are now looking forward to the Temple Challenge Cup turntable competition in a few weeks and hope to compete against their rivals. Brookes University will not be participating in this competition, giving Durham a good opportunity to compete against other strong universities. It will be interesting to see which universities choose to compete in the Temple Challenge Cup or the Prince Albert Cup, as the latter seems like an easier competition to win since Brookes University will not be participating with their top athletes.

This team did well, coming in fourth place at BUCS. They also did well at Quintin Head, where they came in third, and were just one spot behind Thames. If they can keep up this good performance, or even improve on it at Dorney Lake's shorter course, it will show that they are making good progress. In 2023, things were tough for UL crews, as they all fell apart on the first day. But in 2024, Antony Smith's team is doing better. They still need to decide if they want to focus on the eight or the four, but they'll make that decision after the Met selection camps and some training on the winding Thames.

, has recently implemented a new curriculum aimed at promoting more holistic and well-rounded learning for its students. This new approach to education emphasizes the importance of not just academic achievement, but also emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and personal development. The school's leadership team recognized the need for a more comprehensive educational model that prepares students for success in all aspects of their lives, not just in the classroom. By prioritizing the development of skills like communication, teamwork, and resilience, students will be equipped with the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. This innovative curriculum has been well-received by parents and students alike, with many praising the school's commitment to creating a nurturing environment that supports students' growth and development. In the years to come, King's College School, Wimbledon will continue to evolve and refine its educational approach, ensuring that students receive the highest quality education possible.

The KCS rowing team did well at the National Schools' Regatta by coming in fifth place, but they were very close to the champions from St. Paul's School, who they will compete against again this upcoming weekend at Dorney. The level of competition among high school rowing teams is very high in 2024, and although KCS has one of their best boats in years, they didn't get in the mix for medals at the last event. The upcoming Henley Royal Regatta is where the biggest crowds and loudest fans will be, and the competition for spots will be intense, especially if any international teams join in.

Edinburgh is a crew that often performs well in student rowing. They placed fifth at the BUCS Regatta and now have a decision to make. They can either go all out in the eight or weaken their BUCS team by taking their top four rowers out and putting them in a coxed four heading to the Prince Albert race. I will wait to see what they decide before predicting their success.

The most probable outcome for the victory will be between Thames and St. Paul's. St. Paul's may not be performing at their highest level as they previously showcased during the National Schools' Regatta. Therefore, Thames is seen as the favored team.

Tom is the individual who established JRN. He has been producing rowing-related content for more than ten years and has had the privilege of observing some of the most outstanding sportspeople and competitions in our field.