Henley Crew Breaks Record on Day Two of Henley Royal Regatta

LEANDER club has broken a competition record during the second day of racing at Henley Royal Regatta

The women’s eight oars from the Henley-based club set a new Fawley record in the Wargrave Challenge Cup during this morning’s racing.

The crew made up of Amy Salesky, Isy Hawes, Jordan Kingston, Sian Hinton-Woodier, Emily Downing, Charlotte Fennell, Izzy Sellers, Olivia Caesar and Cox: George Farthing beat London Rowing Club ‘A’ by one and a half lengths in a time of seven minutes and 11 seconds.

They made it to Fawley in a record time of three minutes and 22 seconds, setting a new course record.

A number of local crews are featured in the racing programme thought-out the day including, Upper Thames, Shiplake College, Shiplake Vikings Reading Blue Coat School and Leander Club.

The early morning saw defeats for a number of local crews, including Upper Thames and Shiplake Vikings but the tide turned in the middle of the programme with victories for two Shiplake College crews and Leander Club.

Following highs of 32C yesterday, rowers enjoyed cooler weather with light showers in the morning and temperatures forecasted to reach 24C in the afternoon.

7.00pm

American crew, Marin Rowing Association, beat Reading Blue Coat School in their heat of the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup.

They crossed the line in a time of six minutes and 26 seconds. Beating Blue Coat by one and a third of a length.

6.20pm

In the Thames Challenge Cup Leander Club beat Marlow Rowing Club 'A' in a time of six minutes and 28 seconds. The Henley crew won by a length and a quarter.

3.50pm

Thames Rowing Club 'A' beat Upper Thames Rowing Club in the Wyfold Challenge Cup.

Thames completed the course in a time of six minutes and 53 seconds, finishing three and a half of a length ahead of Upper Thames.

3.30pm

Molesey Boat Club 'B' beat Upper Thames Rowing Club 'B' in the Wargrave Challenge Cup in a time of seven minutes and 28 seconds.

The Surrey-based club beat Upper Thames by two and a quarter of a length.

11.30am

Shiplake College knocked Mercantile Rowing Club from Australian out of the Prince Phillip Challenge Trophy.

The junior women’s eight oars finished in a time of seven minutes and 17 seconds, two and a quarter lengths ahead of Mercantile.

The race judge said: “After something of a tussle off the start, Shiplake began to move ahead and develop a commanding lead.”

11.10am

Leander Club beat London Rowing Club ‘A’ in the Wargrave Challenge Cup by one and a half of a length in a time of seven minutes and 11 seconds.

The race judge said: “An impressive Leander crew moved away smoothly and won comfortably, setting a new Fawley record en-route.”

Cox, George Farthing said: “Going into it, for London to have qualified multiple eights in this category, we know they’re a strong crew, so there were some first race nerves for us.

“Going off the start, they were right up there with us, so we just had to stay really in time and push on with that rhythm.

“We had that really confident rhythm through the middle that we managed to push into which was nice and we had a nice tailwind pushing us down the course.”

Izzy Sellers, who rows in seven seat, said: “Conditions-wise, we have had a horrendous headwind here for the past few weeks, so compared to what we have been training in, that was fine, it was almost a tailwind.

“Being on this side (Berks) it meant that we were ready to deal with the wind once we came off the island. Conditions were actually fine.

“I think the race was as I expected it, our aim was always to go out and race as hard as we could to the barrier, and we did that, we broke the record for the barrier.

“We then eased off the gas a little bit to save ourselves for later in the week and still broke the record to the Fawley, so hearing that in the race that we were on record pace, even though we weren’t pushing it 100 per cent, almost gave us a bit more energy.

“It was quite a fun race to be part of. This boat has got quite a lot of confidence in ourself.

“I’ve never been part of a boat more than I have with this group of women in that we’re so solid together and the confidence we’ve had coming into this whole competition has been immense.

“Having a first race like that definitely helps to push us forward onto later on.”

10.30am

Shiplake College beat American crew Norcal in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup by one and a half of a length in a time of six minutes and 25 seconds.

The race judge described it as an “impressive performance” from Shiplake.

They said: “Both crews went off hard but Shiplake settled into a strong rhythm which allowed them to pull steadily away from Norcal whilst dropping the rating.”

Cox Ben Loggie, 18, who lives in Shiplake, said the crew took the race “step by step.”

He said: “We knew that, no matter what race we were racing, or who we faced, we were going to go out with intensity.

“We focused on rowing technically through the enclosures and rowing really well to represent our school.

“Its early days in the regatta, the big races are on the weekend, and we will see on Friday [if we make it]. So hopefully bring it on for the weekend.”

10.10am

Upper Thames were knocked out of the Wargrave Challenge Cup by Thames ‘A’ who won by one length in a time of seven minutes and 11 seconds.

Emily Paul, 26, from Stokenchurch said that the crew knew the race would be tough after finding out following the draw.

She said: “We have raced them at previous regattas, and they are a force to be reckoned with, so we knew we had to go out really really hard or they were going to move away.

“I think we held them as much as we could, but they slowly moved away. But we attacked it all the way and we did ourselves proud against a crew that is potentially going to go through to the final.”

Hannah Hills, 22, from Sonning described the race as “gutsy.” She said: “We didn’t make it easy for them, our coach was giving us calls to say we were gaining on them and we had a good sprint at the end.

“We gave it our everything which is all we can really ask for so we are super proud.”

The race judge said: “Thames rowed clearly and powerfully and established an early lead. They drew away from Upper Thames steadily. Upper Thames fought hard and maintained their attack but could not close.”

9.40am

In the Prince Philip Challenge Trophy Latymer Upper School beat Henley Rowing Club by two lengths in a time of seven minutes and 22 seconds.

The race judge said: “Latymer were the better drilled of the two crews with the stern four being well together compared to Henley. Consequently, Latymer pulled away steadily and recorded a comfortable win.”

Elise Pindoria, 17, from Twyford, who coxed the crew, said: “From yesterday, the start wasn’t that good, and I think we took a lot of experience from looking at the livestream and we knew it was going to be a hard race, so we really stepped up.

“For a couple of the girls in the crew it’s their last race at Henley so we really thought we’re going to hold it until the 500m and we’re going to have a strong first 500m.

“We thought whatever happens, even if we are a length or two lengths behind, which was the outcome, we’re going to hold it to the 500m and the last 500m we’re going to finish it strong, and that’s what we did.

“Obviously the outcome wasn’t what we wanted but I think the girls are really happy with the race. They were just the stronger crew today.”

9.00am

Shiplake Vikings were beaten by Australian crew Mercantile in the Wargrave Challenge Cup.

Mercantile finished in a time of seven minutes and 19 seconds, beating Shiplake Vikings by two and a half lengths.

The race judge said: “Mercantile was off the station but immediately distilled a an easy rhythm which allowed them to pull away.

“Shiplake maintained their rate but was unable to hold them and Mercantile cruised home to an impressive victory.”

Shiplake Viking Izzy Blake,22, said that despite the result, the regatta had been a great experience.

Ms Blake said: “We felt like we were in at the start but then they just pulled away. We were holding the for a little bit but then they went off.”

Ms Blake who is a former Shiplake College pupil, won the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup with the school in 2021.

She said: “In comparison to that it was definitely the most fun regatta we have done.

“Obviously, when we won it was incredible and the best Henley ever but this year there had just been really good vibes, and we have all just come together.

“Our cox did a really good job of keeping our heads in it and making it really fun for us.”