Olympians make surprise return at regatta

FORMER Olympic champion Will Satch returned to the water at this year’s Henley Royal Regatta.

The 35-year-old from Watlington rowed for Star and Arrow Club as they beat A.K.R. Würzburg & R.G. Speyer in The Prince of Wales Challenge Cup for quadruple sculls by a length.

The former Leander rower, who retired after winning gold in the GB eight at the 2012 Olympics in London and in the pair at Rio in 2016, rowed with fellow former Team GB athlete Jack Beaumont as well as Sebastian Devereux and Sam Meijer.

Theirs was one of scores of races that took place in the first two days of the regatta, which began on Tuesday and will end on Sunday.

Shiplake College won all five of their races across the first two days while there were also wins for Leander Club, Upper Thames Rowing Club and Reading Blue Coat School in Sonning.

Thousands of visitors flocked the town for the 185th regatta, which attracted a record 771 entries this year from 27 countries. The previous record of 739 was set in 2022. This year will see the most races ever at 409, up by 15 on last year.

On the first two days, the weather was overcast with showers and the athletes had to contend with headwinds.

The dull weather forced spectators to take cover under marquees as many had not come prepared for the frequent downpours.

The visitors turned out in traditional style, with the majority of women wearing long, colourful dresses, hats and fascinators.

Temperatures remained at about 18C with the Met Office forecasting more of the same on Saturday and finals day on Sunday.

Satch and Beaumont only started planning to take part in the regatta a month ago and they struggled to find team-mates.

Satch, a former Shiplake College student, said: “Jack and I have been sculling a little bit over the last two months and then we had this idea that felt quite stupid at the time but it has been really fun. We were, like, touch and go about the deadline for entries, trying to find two other people to row with us. We were asking around everywhere.

“We’re out of shape compared to what we used to be but we rely on our experience and our enjoyment of the sport.

“There’s always that belief in athletes that we will win and it’s always really fun to turn over the Germans.

“It’s a very different approach to when we were in the national team because we have sort of rolled up.

“When you are in a national team you train all year and through our careers we have done that, so this time it’s a very different process.

“We have done a month of training, only about four sessions together. We’re just having a go and it was great to win. My mum loves the regatta and she was elated to have me rowing again.

“The general sort of comment we get from people is, ‘You guys should know better’.

“But running just hurts and I sort of fell in love with being sort of being back on water.”

Satch, who first rowed at Henley in 2005 when he was 16 with his school, said he and Beaumont planned to celebrate with a pint whether they win or lose.

Beaumont, 30, who lives in Maidenhead, and works for Invesco, won silver in the at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

He has come to the Regatta every year since he was 15.

He said: “It felt really good to come back to compete in Henley again. We’re like the rowers from the back of the antique shop now, I think.

“We are not coming back fully — I want to keep my job — but I think we can and have turned up on days like today and still get a good performance out. We know what to do.

“We’re definitely not as prepared as we have been here before but we want to be involved in a fantastic event.

“I really love the regatta. It’s my 14th time coming. It’s part of the year and a big landmark in a rower’s year.

“It’s a massive party as well — there’s crowds and on the river and it’s close to home.”

Among the crowds was in the enclosures was former Henley Mayor Martin Akehurst and his wife Glynnis who live in Two Tree Hill.

He said: “I used to row for Westminster when I was in sixth form and for Nottingham
University.

“I just love rowing. It’s the people, the whole atmosphere. The enthusiasm for rowing is absolutely stunning and the regatta is very well done.”

Year six pupils from Rupert House School attended the first day of racing alongside their teachers and headmaster Nick Armitage.

The children, dressed in formal attire and their school blazers, were given a tour of Leander Club, the stewards’ enclosure and enjoyed a ride up the course on a Hobbs of Henley boat.

Mr Armitage said: “With Henley being the world centre of rowing, we thought it would be great for them to come down.

“It’s great for the kids to see all the teams from all over the world. The rowers walk past the school most days and they always say ‘hi’ and are very friendly.

“The regatta is an important part of Henley life and we wanted to really inspire them. It the sort of thing I would love every kid in Henley to do and they have loved dressing up and the blazer looks the part.”

While in the steward’s enclosure the children were tasked with finding members wearing similar jackets.

Mr Armitage said: “They found a crew from Miami and one from Southampton University had a similar blazer.”

Pupil Matilda Groh., 12, said: “It’s really fun to watch the races and see how they row. It’s really nerve-wracking too.”

He favourite part of the day was tour of Leander Club.

She said: “I loved looking at how they train and seeing all their boats.”

Head girl Tekl Cazier, 11, said: “The best part was the boat ride. It was also really fun to see all the trophies in the stewards’ enclosure — some of them were massive.” There was also official regatta clothing being sold by Crew clothing.

Shop assistant Holly Bureau, 19, from Reading, said: “Seeing all the different types of blazers is quite fun. I get to watch some of the races. I did it last year too.”

In the regatta store the 185th anniversary Emma Bridgewater mugs were a hit at £28 a piece

The most expensive item was a £225 Crew blazer with the Henley Royal Regatta crest embroidered on the chest.

Police patrolled the regatta site and through the town and reported that everyone was being well-behaved.