Henley Royal Regatta 2023: mixed fortunes for Henley crews on day four

There were mixed fortunes for Henley crews today (Friday) at Henley Royal Regatta. 

In the first race, competing in the Princess Grace Cup, Leander club “A” lost against D.S.R Laga and A.S.R. Nereus Netherlands.

After a close start between the two, at the finish line, Leander was behind by one and three-quarters length in a finishing time of seven minutes and 45 seconds. 

Shiplake College “A” in the Diamond Jubilee Cup and beat Wycliffe Junior Rowing Club “B”. Shiplake College beat Wycliffe by two lengths with a finish time of eight minutes and nine seconds. 

Jess Weir of Shiplake College, said: “The race went in our favour, it was really tough. We were down at the beginning but then caught up and then extended the lead.”

Leander Club beat Oxford Brookes University, in the Town Challenge Cup, by three lengths in a finish time of eight minutes and 18 seconds. 

Success for the crew continued as Leander beat Oxford Brookes University “B” in the Ladies’ Challenge Plate by one and a half lengths and a finishing time of six minutes and 47 seconds. 

Leander’s cox Jack Tottem said: “It was pretty difficult conditions out there, with a very strong headwind and gusts particularly coming off the island, so we really had to trust the rhythm and work our way through it.

“It felt like a really long way for the guys. Me coxing, I had to try and keep it straight, but really good for us to get racing after sitting around a week. I’m excited to get going and enjoy the weekend.”

The Wyfold Cup quarter-final was a loss for Upper Thames Rowing Club against the Thames Rowing Club “A”.

Upper Thames fell behind by two and a half lengths with a finish time of seven minutes and 12 seconds. The team were clearly emotional, embracing one another on the pontoons. 

In the afternoon, Henley Rowing Club were knocked out of the Prince Phillip Challenge Cup by Headington School who won by a lead of one length and a quarter in a time of eight minutes.  

Headington School were warned by the umpire about their steering a number of times along the course however they kept their lead throughout the race. 

The Henley crew looked deflated crossing the finish line with one rower retching from exhaustion. 

In the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup, Shiplake College narrowly beat Marin Rowing Association from California. 

It was a tight victory with Shiplake winning by one length in a time of six minutes and 56 seconds. 

The judge's verdict described the race as “a hard-fought race with the crew matching ratings all the way down the course, Shiplake’s slight greater neatness and pace allowed them to pull away.” 

The Shiplake crew were audibly exhilarated as they cross the line and were greeted with an animated round of applause as they pulled up to the boat tents.  

In the Thames challenge cup, Leander Club beat Deutscher Ruder-Club from Hanover in Germany by three- and three-quarter lengths with a time of seven minutes and 10 seconds. 

The judge's verdict said that while Hanover held Leander along the island Leander coped better with the wind and won with a comfortable lead.  

As the weather conditions worsened later in the afternoon, Henley Rowing Club managed to beat Sir William Perkins School in the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup. 

The crew won by one length and a half in a time of eight minutes 25 whilst battling against strong winds.  

“Henley led from the start but could never relax as Sir William Perkins constantly attacked.” said the judge's verdict.  

The second half of the afternoon saw Leander keep their winning streak. 

In the Remenham Challenge Cup Leander “A” beat Princeton University and in the Wargrave challenge cup the Leander Crew beat Vesta Rowing Club “A”.