Metropolitan Regatta 2023

Brookes take on Metropolitan Regatta 2023

Brookes took to Dorney lake this weekend to race the Metropolitan Regatta which provided the whole squad a great opportunity to prepare on a multi-lane course in the lead up to Henley Women’s Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta in the approaching weeks.

In the morning, after severe delays and complications by the regatta organisers with results from earlier racing, the Brookes Women lined up in the Championship VIIIs A-Final with three crews after some strong time trial results; with time trial winners Brookes A re-drawn in Lane 1, Brookes B in Lane 2 and Brookes C in Lane 4 to accommodate for a strong cross wind.

Brookes A took a lead straight out the blocks and started to assert their dominance on the race early in the 1st 500m. In the middle 1000m, they were able to continue to stretch their lead and maintain a comfortable margin on the rest of the field to take the win. With a fast-starting crew from Thames RC, Brookes B were in for a challenge to earn 2nd place. After a strong last 500m they finished in 3rd, 6 seats down on the strong crew from Thames RC. Brookes C produced a determined effort in the second half of the race and they were able to row down Leander to take place 4th. Some great results for the entire women’s squad to take into their final preparations for Henley Women’s Regatta.

In the Men’s Championship Eights, Brookes fielded 6 eights, of which 3 made the A Final to face crews from Leander Club, Thames RC and Durham University. The Ladies Plate crew controlled the race throughout after making a blistering start. They took the victory by just over a length from Leander Club. The Temple Cup crew, made a strong challenge to the leading crews in the first half of the race, but slipped back to a couple of lengths down coming into the finish line.

The Men’s Championship Coxed Fours event contained a number of crews aiming for the Prince Albert Challenge Cup and Britannia Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. After an initial slow start, the Brookes crew were still fastest to the 500m marker. With some powerful rowing, Brookes continued to stretch their lead through each marker and crossed the finish line 9 seconds ahead of the next fastest crew.

In the Championship Coxless Fours, Brookes were level with the rest of the field at 500m, however, with experienced athletes onboard they maintained their composure and were able to elude several attempts for the lead of the race by other talented crews. Brookes began to stretch their lead out through 1250m and continued to dictate proceedings into the finish line to win by 5 seconds.

Other racing results included:
Women’s Coxless Fours 5^th
Women’s Coxed Four 10^th
Other Men’s VIIIs Brookes C 5^th, Brookes D 11^th, Brookes E 21^st, Brookes F 26^th (Academic Pennant).

The club now enters a two week period of preparation for Henley Women’s and Marlow International Regatta which will be the last weekend of racing before Henley Royal Regatta.

📸 Courtesy of AllMarkOne