Henley Royal Regatta 2023: Shiplake star in the heats on day 1

SHIPLAKE College starred in the heats of the opening day of Henley Royal Regatta.

Its crews won three of their four races today (Tuesday) while there were also wins for Leander Club and Upper Thames Rowing Club.

While racing conditions were perfect in the morning session, a light wind of up to 10mph made steering conditions more challenging later in the day.

Shiplake College beat Green Lake Crew, USA, in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup, for junior men’s eights, which was opened up to clubs as well as schools for the first time this year.

The Bees held a consistent lead of three-and-a-half lengths from the Barrier to Fawley, which widened to five lengths. They ended up winning the race “easily” in a time of six minutes and 53 seconds.

Shiplake College’s “A” team beat Great Marlow School in the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup, for junior women’s quadruple sculls.  

At the Barrier, the Bees were four lengths ahead, although this dropped to three lengths and then to two-and-a-half lengths at the finish, winning with a time of eight minutes and 22 seconds.

In the same event, Shiplake’s “B” crew beat Surbiton High School in the Diamond Jubilee event, Shiplake slowly grew the gap, the ‘B’ crew finshed two-and-three-quarters lengths ahead, with a time of eight minutes and five seconds. One of the Surbiton rowers lost her oar.

But the college suffered defeat to Leander Club in the Fawley Challenge Cup, for junior men’s quadruple sculls. The race was close, however it was Leander Club who took the win, with a close distance of two-thirds of a length ahead and a finishing time of seven minutes ans 17 seconds.

Leander also beat Strathclyde Park RC in the Prince of Wales Challenge Cup, for men’s quadruple sculls.

By the quarter mile mark the Henley-based crew took a one-and-a-quarter length lead which increased to three-and-a-quarter lengths by the mile mark.

They ended winning the race by two-and-a-quarter lengths in a time of six minutes 47 seconds.

Former Leander captain Jack Beaumont competed as Star and Arrow Club in the Prince of Wales but lost out to London Rowing Club by two-and-a-half lengths in a time of six minutes and 57 seconds.

Beaumont, who won Silver for Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics, will be competing in the single sculls later in the week.    

Meanwhile, Henley Rowing Club was beaten by Marlow Rowing Club B in the Fawley Challenge Cup.

Marlow maintained a lead and ended up winning by three lengths in a time of seven minutes and 26 seconds.

Upper Thames RC was successful in defeating Welsh team, Monmouth Rowing Club. Upper Thames achieved an early gap between opposition, finishing four-and-a-half lengths in front with a time of seven minutes and 33 seconds. 

Elsewhere, Reading Blue Coat School in Sonning won its heat in the Princess Elizabeth against Emanuel School.

At the Barrier, Blue Coat had taken a three-quarter-of-a-length lead and at the finished this had stretched to two-and-three-quarter lengths in a time of seven minutes and nine seconds.