HENLEY Rowing Club’s veteran women’s crew came eighth in the Coupe des Dames race held in France.

The Henley crew, who were the oldest to enter the competition, were joined by two scullers from Maidenhead to compete at the 15km course around the Ile St Aubin in Angers. The Henley crew, who raced in a wooden empacher supplied by Angers RC, was made up of Helen Turrell, Marion Holmes (Maidenhead), Karen Wade, Helen Murphy, Ann Tully, Jan Watson, Maggie Hendry (Maidenhead), Valerie Bennett and Didi Horsburgh-Wade (cox).

In all 30 crews competed, with five club’s from England entering this year’s two-day event. In the women’s race although 15 crews entered the numbers were reduced to 14 when the Bayonne crew’s boat was broken in half after crashing into one of the five bridges during the race. Speaking after the race, Wade said: “It’s a very tough course. We set out to come in single numbers this year and we were very happy to achieve that goal.”

Published 29/10/12