Henley storm to victory

THE Henley Dragonboat and Outrigger team entered a men’s and women’s crew in the Hampton Court Challenge, a 12km outrigger canoe race hosted by Royal Canoe and Outrigger Club in Teddington, London, last Sunday.

In a race which had two classes of boat entering, Henley men — with the help of GB Outrigger — raced in the spec category, while some boats were racing in the unlimited class, in a lighter canoe.

The men shot out off the line on the blustery day, the remnants of Storm Amy being felt, pushing upstream towards Hampton Court.

Two men’s boats were in the spec class, with three boats being unlimited. With the lighter boats having an advantage, Henley kept with them as they negotiated the twists and turns along this section of the Thames.

Having clear water around them, Henley fought hard to keep with the unlimited crews, breaking the hour in a time of 59 minutes 21 seconds. The winning unlimited crew, Outrigger Canoe Club (OCUK), finished in a time of 56 minutes and five seconds.

The ladies were in the third, and last, category to start, hunting down both the mixed and men’s crews.

Jostling to position with two other crews, Henley ladies had a strong start. It was close racing, side by side as they meandered up the river under the numerous bridges.

Hosts Royal Outrigger tucked in, putting Henley in the flow, not giving an inch as both crews weaved around mixed crews they caught along the way.

Shortly before halfway Henley broke free after spending the first half in the wind and flow. After a tight competitive turn, in among three other mixed crews turning, Henley cut in tight and pushed past.

Hoping that now with the flow that the wind would have been with them, they were sadly mistaken. Picking off more mixed crews back down the course, Henley settled in and dug deep right to the line.

In a field of three ladies’ crews and nine mixed, Henley were the first ladies’ crew in a time of one hour, five minutes and eight seconds, their time would have made them second in the mixed class, boats which had a 50/50 male/female split.

Henley now look forward to hosting the Henley Winter Series on October 19 where racing will start at 10am.