http://www.hrr.co.ukRSS Feed of the latest news for Henley Royal RegattaTue, 07 May 2013 10:23:03 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=692World class rowing returns to Eton Dorney next month - June 21st to 23rd - when the GB Rowing Team takes on the rest of the world at the second Samsung World Rowing Cup 2013.The event will provide a great opportunity for rowing and sports fans alike to tune up their voices and to get behind Team GB once more at one of the most iconic venues of the London Olympic Games. A number of teams have already indicated that they will stay on in England after the World Cup in order to compete at Henley Royal Regatta. Tickets are now on sale to see Oympic gold medalists like Andrew Triggs Hodge, Pete Reed, Alex Gregory and Helen Glover, amongst others. There are daily tickets, three-day passes and family tickets.However, do not delay, the number of spectators has been capped on each of the three days - Sunday is almost sold out. There will be spectator enclosures and an entertainment and catering area to enjoy, as well as the rowing.You can find out more information by visiting http://www.wrcupetondorney2013.com/You can also purchase tickets over the phone by calling 01753 743900.http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=692Fri, 01 Mar 2013 08:59:45 +0000Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=689Henley Royal Regatta attracts over 300,000 spectators each year and is one of the most prestigious sporting and social occasions in the world.  We recruit a number of temporary staff each year in a wide variety of roles to help stage the Regatta. Please note we are now only recruiting staff aged 18 or over.Download the application letter (PDF)Download the application form for 2013 (PDF) Temporary Employment in the Stewards' EnclosureThe Regatta's Official Caterers are seeking temporary staff to work in the Stewards' Enclosure.  Please note: They will not be contacting/reviewing applicants until after the 1st week in April.For further details please see their recruitment website at www.compasseventjobs.co.uk/henleyEnquiries: Henley.recruitment@compass-group.co.ukhttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=689Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:14:59 +0000Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=681Amendments to the Qualification & General Rules for 2013The Temple Challenge CupIn order to improve the standard of the crews competing in this event it has been decided to remove Rule 1(f) which barred oarsmen who had won a medal at a World Under 23 Championships, at a World University Rowing Championships or at a European Championships. In addition, previous winners of The Prince Albert Challenge Cup will now be allowed to compete in The Temple Challenge Cup. The Thames, Wyfold and Britannia Challenge CupsThe Prince Albert Challenge CupIt is now clear that the standard of medal winning crews is much higher in the World Under 23 Championships and in the European Championships than in the World University Rowing Championships. It has, therefore, been decided that winners of medals at the World University Rowing Championships should be allowed to race in these four Henley events. The Fawley Challenge CupThe Junior Women’s Quadruple ScullsIn 2010 the rules of The Fawley Challenge Cup were changed to restrict entries to single clubs or schools – composite crews were banned. In 2012 the Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls was held for the first time with the same rules as The Fawley Challenge Cup. In order to reinforce the single club / school stance the following new Rule has been introduced for 2013 for both these events:-“Any sculler who has represented his club or secondary school boat club at the National Schools’ Regatta, or at an analogous national event elsewhere, shall compete only for that club or secondary school.”5th December, 2012For further information contact: D. G. M. Grist,The Secretary, Henley Royal Regatta,Regatta Headquarters, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 2LYTelephone 01491-572153 http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=681Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:14:59 +0000Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=6861. Amendments to the Qualification & General Rules for 20132. Election of Steward - Neil Chugani3. Election of Steward - Andrew Crawford4. Election of Steward - Sarah Winckless5. Election of Steward - David WoottonElection of StewardDavid Wootton has been elected a Steward of the Regatta.David was educated at Bradford Grammar School before going to Jesus College, Cambridge where he studied Classics and then Law. While at Cambridge he was Captain of the college boat club in 1972 and rowed in the First Boat which was undefeated at Cambridge. After leaving Cambridge David joined London Rowing Club, where he is still a member. He is also a member of Leander Club.In 1979 he became a Partner at Allen & Overy, the international law firm based in London. Having a strong interest in the governance of the City of London he stood for election to Common Council and was elected as Member for the Ward of Farringdon Within in 2002. In 2005 he was elected Alderman for the Ward of Langbourn. In 2009 David was elected Sherriff of the City of London and in November 2011 he became the 684th Lord Mayor of London.Throughout his career David has devoted time to charitable and community activities in the promotion of education and sport. During his year in office as Lord Mayor he supported five charities, two of them being rowing charities – The Rowing Foundation and London Youth Rowing. Both of these charities are also supported by The Stewards’ Charitable Trust. 5th December, 2012For further information contact: D. G. M. Grist,The Secretary, Henley Royal Regatta,Regatta Headquarters, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 2LYTelephone 01491-572153 http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=686Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:14:59 +0000Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=6851. Amendments to the Qualification & General Rules for 20132. Election of Steward - Neil Chugani3. Election of Steward - Andrew Crawford4. Election of Steward - Sarah Winckless5. Election of Steward - David WoottonElection of StewardSarah Winckless has been elected a Steward of the Regatta.Sarah went to Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge where she studied Natural Sciences. She was an athletic all rounder, with an England Vest for discus throwing and Cambridge Blues in netball, basketball, athletics and rowing. After leaving university in 1997 she decided to focus on one sport and became a key member of the British Women’s rowing team for the next twelve years.Sarah won a bronze medal in the Double Sculls at the 2004 Olympic Games and she was World Champion in the Quadruple Sculls in both 2005 and 2006. At Henley Sarah has won the event for Women’s Eights three times and the event for Women’s Quadruple Sculls twice.The British Olympic Association formed its Athletes’ Commission in 2010 and Sarah was elected as the Commission’s first Chair. She leads a team of 14 Athletes’ representatives and is responsible for feeding back their views to the BOA Board of which she is a member.Sarah is a Director at Flint Performance Partners based in Slough where she works as a Leadership Coach and Motivational Speaker. 5th December, 2012For further information contact: D. G. M. Grist,The Secretary, Henley Royal Regatta,Regatta Headquarters, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 2LYTelephone 01491-572153 http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=685Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:14:59 +0000Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=6841. Amendments to the Qualification & General Rules for 20132. Election of Steward - Neil Chugani3. Election of Steward - Andrew Crawford4. Election of Steward - Sarah Winckless5. Election of Steward - David WoottonElection of StewardAndrew Crawford has been elected a Steward of the Regatta.Andrew was educated at Strodes Grammar School and at Kingston University. He is a member of both Staines Rowing Club and Hampton School Boat Club. He is an independent Chartered Surveyor.Andrew is a Multi-Lane Umpire and a member of the Thames Regional Rowing Council, representing the Juniors’ Rowing Commission. Andrew was the Deputy Chairman for the 2011 World Junior Championships at Dorney which was also the Olympic Test event. At the Olympics Andrew was one of the National Technical Officials. He is on the Organising Committee for the World Cup which will be held at Eton Dorney in May 2013.Andrew was a member of the old British Rowing Council as the Divisional Representative for Staines and Molesey. He is now a member of the new British Rowing Council as the Deputy Chairman of the Sport Committee. 5th December, 2012For further information contact: D. G. M. Grist,The Secretary, Henley Royal Regatta,Regatta Headquarters, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 2LYTelephone 01491-572153 http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=684Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:14:59 +0000Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=6821. Amendments to the Qualification & General Rules for 20132. Election of Steward - Neil Chugani3. Election of Steward - Andrew Crawford4. Election of Steward - Sarah Winckless5. Election of Steward - David WoottonElection of StewardNeil Chugani has been elected a Steward of the Regatta.Neil was educated at Hampton School before studying Geography at St. Catherine’s College, Oxford. He coxed Isis in 1990 and the winning Oxford crew in the 1991 Boat Race. He was a gold medallist at the World Rowing Championships in 2001 when he coxed Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell in the Coxed Pair. At Henley Neil has coxed one winning Ladies’ Plate crew and three winning Prince Philip fours.He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Neil has held senior financial and strategic roles in BSkyB, Goldman Sachs International, BBC Worldwide Limited, the Shine Group and now Point Four Two Consulting.Neil has served as a Non-Executive Director of the Boat Race Company. He is a British Rowing Umpire and he has been appointed as the Treasurer of the 2013 World Cup which will take place at Eton Dorney next May. 5th December, 2012For further information contact: D. G. M. Grist,The Secretary, Henley Royal Regatta,Regatta Headquarters, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 2LYTelephone 01491-572153 http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=682Fri, 30 Nov 2012 13:14:17 +0000Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=680Follow Sir Matthew Pinsent on his polar expedition.http://www.footstepsoflegends.org.uk/http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=680Sun, 01 Jul 2012 19:19:10 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=674Daily briefing notes from the Press Office at Henley Royal RegattaHenley HeadlinesAfter a row-past by British Olympic medallists in the Royal Barge Gloriana, and with a host of rowing Olympians watching, the 2012 Henley Royal Regatta came to a close with some gripping racing in the 20 finals.1948 veteran Lapage watches grandson triumphThe Olympics were last held on the famous Henley course in 1948 but in 2012 you could barely move in the Stewards’ Enclosure without bumping into a British Olympian.Amongst them was the 88-year-old Michael Lapage, from the British eight that took silver in the post-war Games but the former Fleet Air Arm pilot had more on his mind than spending time with his fellow Olympians – his grandson Patrick was stroking the Harvard University eight facing Leander in the final of the Ladies’ Challenge Plate.Harvard’s win was arguably the race of the day, with the result in doubt right up until the announcement of the one-foot verdict, but the elder Lapage said: “I was optimistic. I’ve seen him win another race here by that margin a few years ago.”The veteran Olympian must have kept as cool as his grandson, as Leander led for most of the race.Patrick Lapage, who won the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup with Shrewsbury School in 2007, explained afterwards that Harvard had planned the race that way.“We knew we had to keep contact,” he said. “We had a big 20 strokes in the middle and just kept building. For the last 10 or 15 strokes I just kept my eyes on their boat. You don’t want to lose a race like that.”The young Lapage admits to harbouring his own Olympic ambitions, saying: “I’d love to try for the Games but first I plan to take a year out coaching in the States and then see where I am.” Michael Lapage finally caught up with his grandson after the prize giving, saying: “I knew you could do it”. Olympic hoard take tea at HenleyThere were so many Olympians present that Mike Sweeney, Chairman of the Regatta had to use a megaphone to make himself heard:“This wasn’t the sort of reception I was used to when I was your team manager,” said Sweeney, with a broad smile on his face, as he looked out over a remarkable gathering.As he spoke, the Chairman looked at the grins of no less than 174 of Britain’s Olympic rowers, thrilled to be together with their old team-mates over afternoon tea.“This is just a fantastic occasion,” said John Beattie, who won a bronze medal in the coxless fours at the 1980 Olympics – one of the years that Sweeney managed the team.Sir Steve Redgrave very nearly made the Moscow Games but the veteran of five Olympic Games, together with his wife Ann – who rowed in the 1984 Games - brought their family to share reunions with rowers they hadn’t seen in many a year.Bob Janousek, the Czech coach who many credit with kick-starting the Olympic success of British rowing in the 1970s was there to meet seven men from the eight that won a silver medal in the Montreal Olympics.“It’s great to see so many of the guys here,” he said. “They all look in great shape too.”The highlight of the gathering was the chance for the Olympians to serve as a backdrop to Henley’s famous prize-giving in the Fawley Stand but the most fun occurred when the Olympians gathered for a once-in-a-lifetime photograph.Amazingly, the sun came out: an omen perhaps for the successors of those men and women who will take on the world at Dorney Lake later this month.Gloriana graces Henley reachHenley’s race announcer is normally formal and impartial but Sunday began with a note of humour and parody.“The Royal Barge Gloriana has just passed the Barrier, flags flying, with a rate of striking of 18. Time to the Barrier, several minutes.”A group of British Olympic medallists – including two who won Olympic silver when the 1948 Olympic regatta was run on the same course – manned the barge, which has been moored at the Regatta all week.Among them, Elise Sherwell (nee Laverick) was rowing with Sarah Winckless for the first time since they won Olympic bronze in the double scull in Athens eight years ago.“It was amazing to be rowing behind Sarah again,” said Sherwell.“I don't think we will have broken any records but it's certainly one of the most fun trips up the course I've done.”“We were cheered and clapped all the way. I thought it might be quiet but a lot of people were there early.”Laid-back Mulkerrins savours Star successPete Mulkerrins seat, just inside bay ‘A’ at the far end of the boat tents, does not afford the best view of racing but that was where the man who masterminded Star’s recent success sat as their coxed four secured the club’s first outright win at Henley in its 52-year history.“That win means the world to the club,” said the two-times Olympian, famous for his understated and laid-back manner.“I decided that I would listen to the commentary on the race from inside the boat bays but I just didn’t count on the boys having to produce a finish to win that one.”Mulkerrins had told his boys that their opposition from Taurus were unlikely to produce a strong last 100m but that was exactly what happened. The crew with former world indoor rowing champion Graham Benton on board fought back to within three feet of Star.“Luckily Pete had taught us how to row really well, so we didn’t need to rely on his predictions,” said Will Eason, the mainstay of Star Club’s recent Henley challenges and one of the four men who followed last year’s Thames Challenge Cup final defeat in the eight with victory in the four.How much emotion did Mulkerrins show when his crew crossed the line in front?“I allowed myself a wry smile,” he admitted. Inside, though, the big man knows just what that win means for his crew, his club and – just maybe – even himself.Abingdon secure double-tripleThe aim for any leading British school eight is the "Triple" of wins at the Schools Head, National Schools Regatta and the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley but Abingdon School improved on that on Sunday, winning all three events for the second successive year.After beating Radley College by three-quarters of a length in a nail-biting final, Abingdon's coach Athol Hundermark, made it clear that he saw the other two events as stepping stones to Henley success.“We said if we got National Schools and Schools Head as well that would be brilliant but the focus was always Henley,” said the South African.Seventeen seconds behind Abingdon, Radley were fifth at Schools Head but moved up to third by National Schools and stepped up to beat Hampton in a gripping semi-final."To have 46 crews entered, with 11 from overseas and to meet our nearest rivals [in the final] is pretty special," added Hundermark, who will leave Abingdon after seven years to take a job at Shrewsbury School next year."It's been a wonderful time and I've loved every minute of it but it's probably the right time and the right note to move on." Late change key for history-making Henley girlsHenley Rowing Club’s young foursome were clearly proud to have made history in winning the Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls in its inaugural year but just four weeks ago they weren’t even among the top six crews in the country.Henley failed to reach the final at the National Schools Regatta, prompting a re-jig that brought 16-year-old Alice White into the crew, racing in events for under-18s. Rejuvenated, they beat Canford at Henley Women’s Regatta and started to think big.Watching his daughter Joanna win from the umpire’s launch, Martin Unsworth was clearly emotional.“I couldn’t sleep last night, cried my way down most of the course,” he admitted.“A month ago, Joanna said to me, ‘We won’t even qualify, we’re not quick enough.’ They brought Alice in the boat and won Henley Women’s in style.Then she said: ‘We might just have a chance at this.”Joanna admitted: “I think we're the first people to scream at that pitch on the finish line” after an event in which each of the crews coped well with difficult conditions.Her father added: “I think people have been impressed by the way they have conducted themselves, that they had power and sense. They weren’t giggly girls; they were proper athletes.”Latymer girls step up for communityThey suffered a surprising defeat on Friday in the first round of the inaugural Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls but the Latymer Upper School quadruple scull deserve headlines for the work they have been doing with less privileged teenagers.They are all members of a unique volunteering programme established at their boathouse to support a new initiative launched by London Youth Rowing (LYR), the charity established to introduce young people to the sport.Set up by Jim Downing in 2004 after a trip to Henley, LYR has its roots in East London but by 2011 it was looking to establish itself in the west of the city. To make the West London initiative feasible LYR needed funding and volunteers.Some finance came from the Sam Griffiths Foundation, named after the brother of Kate Griffiths, who rows in the Latymer quadruple scull. Sam was killed aged 16 in 2009 in a tragic accident. Funding was achieved for a full-time coach based at the University of London boathouse in Chiswick. Meanwhile Kate Griffiths and squad-mates offered a team of around 10 volunteers to assist with coaching.The girls spend every Wednesday evening on the river helping with LYR’s Learn 2 Row courses and spend some of their holidays assisting with courses which are curriculum-based within schools.“The programme has been good for the girls, good for the boathouse and good for the community,” said their coach Hugo Gulliver“Volunteering has allowed them to give something back to rowing and given them the chance to share their enthusiasm for the sport with people who might otherwise have never got close to the water.”In under a year the initiative has introduced 797 pupils from west London state schools to rowing. LYR raced at Henley for the first time this year, fielding a quad that raced as Lea RC. That should show the west London youngsters they can reach the Regatta one day too.For further information contact Caroline Searle or Miranda Edwards in the Henley Royal Regatta press office on 01491 572153 or 01491 575056 press@hrr.co.uk or 07831 755351http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=674Sun, 01 Jul 2012 18:28:47 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=672Over 170 of Great Britain’s rowing Olympians, going back as far as 1948, watched as young rowers from around the world showed their future potential in today’s finals at Henley Royal Regatta.The group were brought together for a reunion at the Regatta. The day began with a row-past by British Olympic medallists in the royal barge Gloriana, which has been moored at the end of the course all week. The group included two of the eight that won silver when the Olympic regatta was held at Henley in 1948.No current British Olympians were on display at Henley this year as they are all on training camps ahead of the London 2012 Games. The only crew at Henley bound for the 2012 Olympics was the German women’s eight, who suffered a two-length defeat at the hands of a Canadian development crew on Sunday, but several young British international hopefuls impressed and there was some thrilling racing in the junior events, including Abingdon School’s second successive victory in the school-boy eights event."The Regatta has been below Olympic standard for very understandable reasons but for the Under-23s it has been fantastic," said Sir Matthew Pinsent, a four-time Olympic champion and Regatta Steward."You won't find many people on the podium at London 2012 who haven't been through Henley once.""Besides the British, the Americans love it, the Australians seem to have come in force this year, the Dutch and the Germans are here. Hopefully we'll get them to come again and again."There were victories today for two crews likely to race for Britain at the European Championships in September, the first step towards the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.A composite four of Molesey BC and Oxford Brookes, stroked by former Cambridge University Boat Race winner Fred Gill, beat Dutch students Nereus easily in the Visitors’ Challenge Cup, after Leander Club’s Alan Sinclair and John Collins overwhelmed a Norwegian duo by over four lengths in the Double Sculls Challenge Cup.That was the second win of the day for Henley-based Leander, who were also victorious in the Prince of Wales Challenge Cup for quadruple sculls. Two of the Leander quad, Nick Middleton and Jack Hockley, won their third successive titles, beating the likely Great Britain under-23 crew from University of London and Durham University.However, Leander could not hold off a Harvard University eight containing three British oarsmen, who won the Ladies’ Challenge Plate final by one foot with a huge surge in the last 50m, securing their third win in the event in six years and denying their rivals what would have been their third in nine.Harvard’s British stroke Patrick Lapage was watched by his grandfather Michael, one of those 1948 Olympic medallists."He won a race like that by the same margin in 2007 so I was pretty optimistic he could do it," said Michael Lapage.Patrick said: "The last 10 or 15 strokes, my eyes were locked onto the boat. You just don't want to lose a race like that."That blistering race was three seconds faster than the Grand Challenge Cup final that followed, a California RC eight made up of US oarsmen who missed out on Olympic selection beating Brown University.Abingdon School beat Radley College in a fiercely contested Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup final, a three-quarter-length victory securing for the second successive year the "Triple" of wins at the Schools Head, National Schools Regatta as well as Henley. “We said if we got National Schools and Schools Head as well, that would be brilliant but the focus was always Henley," said their coach, South African Athol Hundermark.Sir William Borlase's Grammar School won the Fawley Challenge Cup for junior quadruple sculls for the first time in their own right, beating Marlow Rowing Club 'A' by an emphatic 3 ¼ lengths.Australia’s National Centre for Rowing Excellence secured two victories ahead of the Under-23 World Championships in Lithuania later this month, beating their New Zealand counterparts in the men's coxless fours and a Dutch development crew in the women’s quadruple sculls.The South African Peter Lambert won the Diamond Challenge Sculls, beating Great Britain’s Graeme Thomas in the final race of the day.On the final morning, the schoolgirls of Henley Rowing Club won the inaugural Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls and there were two more new names in the record books. They beat Canford School by two and a half lengths, and 17-year-old Joanna Unsworth in the three seat said: "I think we're the first people to scream at that pitch on the finish line."Star Club of Bedford won at Henley in their own right for the first time in their 52 year history, beating Taurus BC in the Britannia Challenge Cup for coxed fours. In the Wyfold Challenge Cup for coxless fours, Nottingham rowers recorded their first win at Henley since three of the city’s clubs merged six years ago to form Nottingham RC.For further information contact Caroline Searle or Miranda Edwards in the Henley Royal Regatta press office on 01491 572153 or 01491 575056 press@hrr.co.uk or 07831 755351http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=672Sun, 01 Jul 2012 15:07:36 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=668The schoolgirls of Henley Rowing Club won the inaugural Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta and there were two more new names in the record books on a thrilling final morning.On their home water, Henley RC beat Canford School by two and a half lengths, and 17-year-old Joanna Unsworth in the three seat said: "I think we're the first people to scream at that pitch on the finish line"."It feels great. It's good to be the first people to do it and be the first names on the records"."Now we want to win it again; go for the double."Star Club of Bedford won at Henley for the first time in their 52 year history.  Having led by over a length at one point in the final of the Britannia Challenge Cup for coxed fours, they held on for a verdict of three feet as rivals Taurus BC put in a huge late surge.Having seen his Star eight lose in a final last year their coach, Olympian Pete Mulkerrins said: “It means the world to us.”Nottingham rowers recorded their first win at Henley since three of the city’s clubs merged six years ago to form Nottingham RC.Beaten finalists in last year’s Wyfold Challenge Cup, the coxless four rowed down Australian club ANA over the second half of the course having trailed by a length."We’ve had some close races this week already and I thought maybe we had had too many close races but they were brilliant," said Nottingham’s director of rowing Dez Atkins."We’ve strengthened them by a long way. Two guys from last year didn’t even make it into this boat, which just shows how much depth we’re starting to get."In a similarly dramatic race, University of London ‘A’ overturned Newcastle’s early lead to triumph by ¾ of a length for their first Prince Albert Challenge Cup victory since 2007.Molesey BC’s eight won the Thames Challenge Cup for the second time in four years, beating Thames RC by two lengths.Two of Leander Club’s quad, Nick Middleton and Jack Hockley, won their third successive Prince of Wales Challenge Cup, the Henley club beating the potential Great Britain under-23 crew from University of London and Durham University.The day began with a row-past by a group of British Olympic medallists in the royal barge Gloriana, which has been moored at the Regatta all week.Among them, Elise Sherwell (nee Laverick) was rowing with Sarah Winckless for the first time since they won Olympic bronze in the double scull in Athens eight years ago."It was amazing to be rowing behind Sarah again," said Sherwell."I don't think we will have broken any records but it's certainly one of the most fun trips up the course I've done.""We were cheered and clapped all the way. I thought it might be quiet but a lot of people were there early."For further information contact Caroline Searle or Miranda Edwards in the Henley Royal Regatta press office on 01491 572153 or 01491 575056 press@hrr.co.uk or 07831 755351http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=668Sat, 30 Jun 2012 20:50:26 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=666Henley HeadlinesAmerican eights stood out on the fourth day at Henley Royal Regatta but seven of Sunday’s 20 finals will be all-British affairs. Sunday’s action begins at 11.30am, after a row-past by a group of Olympians in the royal barge Gloriana.Nottingham survive for second chanceNottingham RC's coxless four will hope history does not repeat itself too closely as they prepare for a second successive Wyfold Challenge Cup final.The verdict in their semi-final today - beating Tideway Scullers’ School by three-quarters of a length - is exactly the same as it was last year, although on that occasion the semi had to be re-rowed after Scullers’ fin was caught in weed.This time a crew with two of the same oarsmen - Richard Watton and Matt Gotrel - survived a battering wind and a dogged Scullers crew.Now they must put last year's defeat to London to the back of their minds as they prepare to take on Australian club ANA on Sunday but coach Dan Johnson feels last year's Henley experience, going through a regatta that lasts at least twice as long as most, will help.“The experience of going through five days is so important,” he said. “The crew that missed out last year had never made it to a Thursday before. It was all new and different.“Obviously we would rather have won last year, then we could be sitting on a beach now, rather than being here in the wind and rain but it's probably a stepping stone you have to take along the way. It's very hard to just rock up, make the weekend and win.” “Boss” swaps ballet for boatA cool Californian, Brandon “Boss” Shald, strokes California RC’s eight in the Grand Challenge Cup with just a touch more poise, flow and rhythm than most.  But the 28-year-old’s unique sense of movement was already well honed by the time he was just 19. It was then that he danced his first lead role, in Balanchine's Concerto Barocco ballet.Admittedly, it’s hard to picture the big man - just one race away from lifting the Regatta’s top prize - as once having graced the theatres of the West Coast but the San Francisco Chronicle described him as: “A very musical and sensitive partner”“It was my first lead and you always remember that one,” explained Shald, shortly after getting his breath back having led his crew to a convincing two-length victory over Australia’s top U23 eight.“Back then, I was just 175lb (12st 7lb). But now, I’m about 215 Ib and really enjoying myself in this eight.”Shald switched to rowing in 2008, after his father, a former oarsman, suggested he give it a try. Four years later, he just missed out on a place in the Olympic team but plans to continue rowing in an attempt to make the US team for Rio 2016.“The guys in our eight didn’t quite make it this year but I learned so much under [US coach] Mike Teti,” Shald said.Remarkably, though, Shald’s eight has only had three days working together with their coach, the former German lightweight Bernhard Stomperowski before the Regatta, they remain many observers’ favourites to take the Grand ahead of their compatriots from Brown University.“It’s a long race out there in these conditions,” said Shald, “but if we find our rhythm, I think we have a solid shot of winning.”Molesey look to bigger pictureMolesey oarsmen will feature in two of Sunday’s finals and chief coach Ben Lewis has a job on his hands if the men in black are to prevail against both a Thames RC eight in the Thames Challenge Cup and the Dutch student four from Nereus in the Visitors’ Challenge Cup. But while these two events are Lewis’s immediate priority, his dream is to find a way for the Surrey club to produce an eight good enough to win the Ladies’ Challenge Plate.That Lewis has a long way to go, was shown by the comprehensive defeat of the Molesey and Oxford Brookes composite by Harvard University in the Ladies’ semi-final on Saturday afternoon.“Those guys from Harvard do a great job. They’ve got the experience of previous winners in that boat and plenty of time to integrate new guys,” said Lewis. “Our guys have different styles and we have only had a short time together.”But hope is at hand in the shape of Lewis’s Thames Cup eight, aiming to take the title they last won in 2009.“We could have tried to put our best four in the “Brit” or Wyfolds but we’re a big club and it’s right we should try and win the Thames Cup,” he said. “If we are successful on Sunday, I hope to keep the basis of that crew together to make a challenge on the Ladies.”Fred Gill, who strokes the Molesey / Brookes crew in the Visitors Challenge Cup has his eyes firmly set on a place in the British team for 2016 so may not fit into that plan.Nevertheless, as a former Ladies’ Plate winner with Leander, Lewis knows what it takes. And he thinks that Harvard will start as favourites to beat his old club on Sunday.“The three Brits they have in that eight row really well and, overall, their coach Harry Parker has done a great job,” he said.The men Lewis is referring to are Andy Holmes, Casper Jopling and Patrick Lapage. Two of them are former world junior champions and Jopling won the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup with Eton. Triple Olympian Dekker chooses Henley for farewellHollandia’s 3 ¼ -length victory over Piediluco in the Princess Grace Challenge Cup extended stroke-woman Femke Dekker’s 18-year career by a further day, and took her into her first Henley final at the third attempt.Dekker, 33 next month and an Olympic silver medallist in the Dutch eight four years ago, just missed out on selection for that boat again this year but was offered a seat for Henley after injury hit the Dutch development quad preparing for the European Championships.“I was hoping to be in London for my fourth Olympics but I just missed out on the women’s eight after a slight injury and some family problems,” she said. “People here love rowing and I’m here because I love rowing too. The whole event, how people dress up and the history … now I know why I love rowing.  Being here is better than World Cups because there everyone is busy with themselves but here we’re all one family; we share the thing we love the most.”Her crew will face the Australian Under-23 quad, who raced level to the Progress Boards 50m from the finish with their New Zealand counterparts, before surging to victory.“It will be tough tomorrow,” said Dekker, “but I will give more than 200% for my last race.” Searle takes seat on GlorianaJonny Searle has confirmed he will be on the Royal Barge Gloriana, as one of a group of Olympians who will row over the course at 11am on Sunday morning and he will join more than 170 rowing Olympians at a reunion later in the day.Searle won gold in the coxed pairs in Barcelona in 1992 and his cox in that race, Garry Herbert, will also attend. The third crew-member, Jonny's younger brother Greg, is on the Great Britain training camp in the Austrian Alps as he aims to win a second Olympic title 20 years after his first.Overheard“Even from the Barn Bar you can hear a hum, then when you get to Remenham it’s huge. I could taste blood but I just had to keep going.”- A London RC competitor describes the “Remenham Roar”, which greets member crews at the Remenham Club half-way up the course“It’s a lovely eight; it goes like the wind. Well, it did.”- Henley Steward Dan Topolski after a Saturday morning paddle with the Great Britain lightweight crew that won the world title in 1977“We only wash the boat on Saturdays. If you need to wash it on Wednesdays, you’re really struggling.”- Star Club coach Pete Mulkerrins prepares his coxed four before the semi-final victory over London RCFor further information contact Caroline Searle or Miranda Edwards in the Henley Royal Regatta press office on 01491 572153 or 01491 575056 press@hrr.co.uk or 07831 755351http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=666Sat, 30 Jun 2012 20:41:43 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=665American eights stood out on the fourth day at Henley Royal Regatta but seven of Sunday’s 20 finals will be all-British affairs after some brutal racing with the gusty headwind that has been a feature all week continuing to make life hard.Brown University will take on a California RC crew made up of oarsmen who just missed out on Olympic selection in the final of the Regatta’s blue ribbon Grand Challenge Cup, and another Brown  crew face University of Washington freshmen in the Temple Challenge Cup for student eights.Harvard University will race a British eight from Leander Club in the Ladies’ Challenge Plate after beating a Molesey composite crew coxed by Sydney Olympian Rowley Douglas in today’s semi-final.But the Americans did not have things all their own way. In the Prince Albert Challenge Cup for coxed fours, University of London ‘A’ came out best in a neck-and-neck tussle with Harvard.As they attempt to win the event for the first time since 2007, UL must tomorrow face the winners in 2008, Newcastle University, who beat Imperial College in their semi-final.Fours from Nottingham RC and Star Club of Bedford booked places in Henley finals for the second successive year, in the Wyfold Challenge Cup and Britannia Challenge Cup respectively, but Tideway Scullers’ School suffered defeats in the semi-finals of both events.Star beat London RC with ease and will face Taurus BC, who just held off Scullers for a three-quarter-length victory early in the day.Nottingham's verdict in their semi-final today - beating Scullers by three-quarters of a length - is exactly the same as it was last year, at the end of a bruising encounter. Having lost in last year's final they will seek to go one better against Australian club ANA on Sunday."It's the first race I've been nervous in for a long time, whether rowing myself or coaching," said Nottingham coach Dan Johnson."Conditions were really horrible, really gusty but the crew kept loose and it was pleasing to see them be so ruthless."In the Prince of Wales Challenge Cup, Leander’s quadruple scull will take on a four-club composite hoping to compete for Great Britain at the Under-23 World Championships. Leander braved a sudden rain storm just before lunch to beat Bayer Leverkusen of Germany after the under-23s, rowing as Durham University and University of London, overcame New Zealand’s West End RC.Thames RC will face Molesey in the final of the Thames Challenge Cup after withstanding a furious late push from Upper Thames RC as the latter passed their own clubhouse half-way up the course. Thames won by two thirds of a length. Molesey, who won the event in 2009, cruised past Royal Chester.Abingdon School, the National Schools Regatta winners, beat their Australian counterparts from Scotch College, Melbourne, but Hampton School – second at National Schools – lost to Radley College in a gripping semi-final later in the day.Marlow RC face Sir William Borlase’s School in the final of the Fawley Challenge Cup for quads, having defeated Prince Alfred College of Australia on Saturday.The final of the inaugural Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls will be a repeat of the Henley Women’s Regatta final in the event. On that occasion, Henley RC beat Canford School by a length.Sunday’s action will begin with a row up the course at 11am by a group of Olympians in the Royal Barge, Gloriana, which has been moored at the Regatta site all week.  1948 Olympians Paul Bircher and Michael Lapage will be amongst the crew, as will James Cracknell of a more recent Olympic vintage.For further information contact Caroline Searle or Miranda Edwards in the Henley Royal Regatta press office on 01491 572153 or 01491 575056 press@hrr.co.uk or 07831 755351http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=665Sat, 30 Jun 2012 15:05:32 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=664All-British finals are in prospect in at least four Henley Royal Regatta events, including the two for coxed fours, after some hard-fought semi-finals on the fourth morning.University of London 'A' (UL) came out best in a neck-and-neck tussle in the Prince Albert Challenge Cup with Harvard University, conceding an early lead and running level through the middle of the course before winning by half a length."They came back level at Fawley and from then on, I had no idea if we were up or down," admitted James Cook, the crew's stroke.Ollie Cook, who sat at bow, said: "It wasn't until we got past the grandstand that I sensed we could win it."As they attempt to win the Prince Albert Challenge Cup for the first time since 2007, UL must tomorrow face the winners in 2008, Newcastle University, who beat Imperial College in their semi-final.Star Club, The Britannia Challenge CupStar Club of Bedford booked their second Henley final in as many years, beating London RC with ease in the Britannia Challenge Cup. They will face Taurus BC, who just held off Tideway Scullers' School for a three-quarter-length victory early in the day.Leander's quadruple scull will take on a four-club composite hoping to compete for Great Britain at the Under-23 World Championships in the Prince of Wales Challenge Cup. Leander braved a sudden rain storm just before lunch to beat Bayer Leverkusen of Germany after the under-23s, rowing as Durham University and University of London, overcame New Zealand’s West End RC.Thames RC's eight in the Thames Challenge Cup withstood a furious late push from Upper Thames RC as the latter passed their own clubhouse half-way up the course to win by two thirds of a length. The second semi-final, between Molesey and Royal Chester, was scheduled to take place later on Saturday.Graeme Thomas of Agecroft RC – a World Cup finalist in Munich earlier this month – eased to victory in the all-British semi-final in the Diamond Challenge Sculls, beating Loughborough Student Jonathan Walton.Dutch Olympic silver medallist Femke Dekker extended her 18-year career by a further day when her Hollandia quad beat the Italians from Piediluco in the Princess Grace Challenge Cup semi-final."I was hoping to be in London for my fourth Olympics but I just missed out on the women’s eight after a slight injury and some family problems," she said."People here love rowing and I’m here because I love rowing."More than 170 British rowing Olympians will come together at the Regatta on Sunday and Jonny Searle has confirmed he will join them. Searle won gold in the coxed pairs in Barcelona in 1992 and his cox in that race, Garry Herbert, will also attend. The third crew-member, Jonny's younger brother Greg, is on the Great Britain training camp in the Austrian Alps as he aims to win a second Olympic title 20 years after his first.For further information contact Caroline Searle or Miranda Edwards in the Henley Royal Regatta press office on 01491 572153 or 01491 575056 press@hrr.co.uk or 07831 755351http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=664Fri, 29 Jun 2012 20:04:39 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=662Henley HeadlinesAnother windy day at Henley saw young Australian crews show their strength, while schoolgirls made history by appearing at the Regatta for the first time. Saturday brings semi-finals in each of the 20 events.Aussie shows true gritAfter a remarkable victory in a heat of the Temple Challenge Cup, James Medway showed just how strong the Aussie spirit can be.At 10.40am, an exhausted Medway thought his regatta was over after his Harvard University ‘A’ eight were beaten in a close contest by the University of Washington. Unknown to the freshman, compatriot Matt Cochran – who was due to race for Australia’s National Rowing Centre of Excellence ‘A’ eight in the Grand - had been just been taken ill with a gastric bug.“We knew we needed a sub but we had to wait for about an hour after Matt had lost the Temple before we asked him,” said Peter Shakespear, Australia’s high performance development manager.It was not just a physical but also a technical challenge that faced Medway. He had raced in the regatta on bow side but the NCRE eight needed him to sub in on the other side in their race against the Dutch national lightweight eight, Hollandia.“We knew he’d rowed on stroke side a while back, so we reckoned he could do it,” said coach Tom Morris. “He kept pretty quiet when we asked him but you could see that he was pleased to get another shot at winning.”Those watching the final stages of the Grand could see that Medway’s technique was under pressure but the coaches were delighted with his performance.“I think we’ll keep him in for tomorrow’s race against Cal [California Rowing Club],” said Morris.Injury has also affected Australia’s second entry in the Grand Challenge Cup and yet another of Harvard’s five Aussie rowers, Charles Risbey, has been drafted in as a replacement.“It’s been a tough couple of weeks for us,” Shakespear admitted.Junior women make Henley historyThe Regatta began a new page in its history today as the Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls event got under way.And even though they are familiar with the river the quad from Henley RC – who won at Henley Women’s Regatta a fortnight ago on a 1500m course – felt the difference over the full mile and 550 yards (2112m).“You definitely know it's longer than 2k,” said 17-year-old Joanna Unsworth, who sat in the three seat, as Henley beat Headington School in one of the first heats.“It was very different to any race we've done before, especially in the last 1000m with everyone supporting.”Henley coach Chris Boothroyd said more girls’ quads have raced throughout this season as a result of the Regatta Stewards’ announcement of the new event 18 months ago.“Headington are a sweep club but as soon as the announcement was made, the next thing you saw was a Headington quad out there, understandably,” he said.“Having the event will raise the status of girls' sculling; it's bound to.  It was a good race; conditions were horrible but they handled it well.“It is a very different event to anything else we've done: Henley Women's, National Schools, any of those. The pressure is different.”Henley RC has beaten all but Nottingham RC this year so are confident for the rest of the Regatta.The club earlier this year received a grant from the Stewards’ Charitable Trust, which was established in 1988 to provide funds to support young people to row.Boothroyd said: “The money has allowed us to employ a number of coaches to help not only at this level but to bring on our 12- and 13-year-olds so we get a bigger base and improve across the whole range.”One of those coaches is Leander oarsman John Collins, who was unable to watch the quad because he was racing, along with Alan Sinclair, in their double scull in the very next race, beating a Dutch duo easily.As is common practice with new events at the Regatta there will be no trophy on offer this year but the winners will receive medals.Canford lightweightAt only 7st 13lbs Lauren Fry is probably the lightest rower at Henley but the Canford bow certainly packed a massive punch as she helped her crew defeat Tideway Scullers in a later heat of the Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls.James Stevenson, one of Canford’s coaching team, described his 5ft3in oarswoman as “seriously feisty; a real racer”.“Lauren pushes more weight on the squats than any other member of the crew,” he added.After her race, Fry explained how she knew her crew were ready to race: “We had a couple of the girls vomiting with nerves before. But it was the same at National Schools and we won that. So I knew we were up for it.” Smith hopes Scullers’ luck continuesTideway Scullers’ charmed life in the Wyfold Challenge Cup continued on Friday, and Antony Smith hopes it will last two more days so he can break his Henley duck. On Wednesday, the four won despite clipping one of the wooden booms on the side of the course; yesterday they came from behind to beat the selected London ‘A’ crew.On the third morning of the Regatta they had to restart their quarter-final against the Munich crew after a clash. Steering was erratic at the second attempt too and photos show the Scullers bow pair with their arms up in appeal mid-race.Ignored by umpire Mike Williams, they went a length down in the process but still managed to pull through to win by a length.Smith will have deja-vu on Saturday when he faces Nottingham ‘A’ in a re-match of last year’s semi-final. The 10st 10lb oarsman, who has been racing at Henley for a decade - usually in a lightweight quad with little chance of victory – reached Sunday in an eight in 2008, but was unable to clinch a medal.“We've done everything in this boat now. It's quite a fun boat to be in. Hopefully we can keep going now,” he said. “It’s about time. Fingers crossed.”Lifeguards celebrate 25 years at HenleyRowers in distress at Henley will find several friendly faces on the river waiting to come to their aid, and one face has been the same for 25 years.Colwick Park Lifeguards from Nottingham have been manning boats along the course since 1988, and vice-chairman Nigel Buck has attended every single Regatta since.He is part of a 16-strong team, covering four positions along the reach. The team at the finish tells members of each crew to sit up immediately if they lie down exhausted.“The idea of telling them to sit up as they cross the line is to be able to identify anyone who is in desperate need,” said Buck.  “They have done a long race and are short of breath but can get that back while sitting up. Those who are laying down and staying down are the ones you worry about.“Wednesday was busiest as regards injuries. A kneecap was dislocated, there was another knee problem and another guy's back had gone.”The team’s first involvement in rowing came at the 1986 World Rowing Championships at Nottingham’s National Watersport Centre, after which they were asked to come to Henley.Usually the lifeguards will try to keep injured rowers in their boats, while alerting medical services on the bank. But sometimes they have no option but to bring an oarsman or woman on board their boat.“Several years ago, as an eight crossed the finish line, the handle of the stroke's oar got stuck in his chest and threw him straight into the water,” said Buck, “right in front of a packed weekend Stewards’ Enclosure.” Auriol Kensington honour Olympic championAfter seeing the steering problems suffered by racing crews on Thursday, Auriol Kensington RC’s Jimmy Pigden was fretting overnight about taking a crew up the course during the Regatta this morning for the first time in – he estimated - 50 years.Wearing the same blazer he wore 50 years ago, Pigden was cox of one of the veteran eights that rowed over during the lunch interval, celebrating the centenary of club member WD “Wally” Kinnear’s Olympic singles triumph and the 50th anniversary of AK’s annual three-day row from their club house in Hammersmith to Henley.In the event, though, he had no reason to worry about the potentially treacherous wooden booms that line the course.  They told us to go down the middle so it was fine,” he said.Three-times world lightweight champion Peter Haining – another AK member who was inspired by fellow Scot Kinnear - and Wally’s seventh child Donald were on hand for the naming of a new eight in the Olympic champion’s honour. Since 1912, no Brit has followed Kinnear onto the top step of the podium for single scullers.Brown show strength in depthYou can tell that Brown University’s top eight are not superstitious. The Americans, hotly fancied in the Grand Challenge Cup, have chosen to race in the same boat that Oxford University used in their controversial defeat in this year’s Boat Race.“Yeah I saw that race, it was kind of crazy,” said Ben Dann, Brown’s two-man, but understandably he is purely focussed on trying to win the Grand. For him, Brown’s opening race could not come soon enough.“We’ve been really anxious to get going,” explained the senior-year oarsman. “But you could tell we used that energy well in our race against the Italians.”Brown’s varsity crew opened their account with a comfortable victory against the Italian national lightweight eight.With a strong Australian under-23 crew waiting for Brown on Saturday, Dann knows his crew will have to step up.“We’ve had a fantastic season so far. We know we’ve got some good crews to face but we’re going to give winning the event our best shot.”Dann himself is no stranger to U23 competition, having represented the USA in the single sculls at last year’s championships.An indication of the high standards at Brown was the size of the crowd that greeted Dann’s crew when they got off the water. It included Brown’s junior varsity eight, fresh from their success in the Temple Challenge Cup against a strong Nereus crew.Henley Steward Jamie Koven, the former world sculling champion, just had time to change into his alma mater’s blazer after winning a heat of the of the Silver Goblets and Nickalls’ Challenge Cup over Germany’s lightweight pair. On Friday, Koven and Mike Blomquist – veterans who both just missed out on Olympic selection - face a strong U23 pair from Greece.For those that want to understand a bit more of the winning Brown philosophy, a fabulous book has just been published called: Ever True. It is beautifully resourced and tells in great style the illustrious story of rowing at Brown. Copies are available from Richard Way Bookshop in Henley.Brown’s Boat Race connection is about to go even deeper: next year Alex Fleming, the Australian strokeman in the Grand eight, will study and row at Cambridge University.For further information contact Caroline Searle or Miranda Edwards in the Henley Royal Regatta press office on 01491 572153 or 01491 575056 press@hrr.co.uk or 07831 755351 http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=662Fri, 29 Jun 2012 19:50:38 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=661Australia showed their strength today at Henley Royal Regatta as a squad of young rowers won four races in as many events on a windy day three.The Aussies, rowing as the National Rowing Centre of Excellence (NRCE), are preparing for the Under-23 World Championships in Lithuania next month. They won heats in the Grand Challenge Cup for men’s eights, the Queen Mother Challenge Cup for men’s quadruple sculls, the Princess Grace Challenge Cup for women’s quads and the Remenham Challenge Cup for women’s eights.The NRCE ‘A’ eight in the Grand beat the Dutch national lightweight eight, Hollandia, by 3 ¼   lengths despite having to make a late substitution. James Medway joined the crew, and swapped sides, just hours after his Harvard University ‘A’ eight were beaten in a close contest by the University of Washington in the Temple Challenge Cup.Their men’s quad dominated another Hollandia crew, Dutch junior squad members, in the Queen Mother with a clean, crisp display; the women’s quad knocked out Nottingham RC and the women’s eight beat a German crew from Munchen and Hurth by 3 ¼  lengths.Oxford University coach Sean Bowden had a stark message for his next Boat Race squad after a coxless four comprising senior squad members conceded a length’s lead in the Stewards’ Challenge Cup to lose to Norske Studenters.However, he was pleased to see the return to top-level competitive rowing for Alex Woods, now fully fit almost three months after collapsing at the end of a dramatic 2012 Boat Race.“It shows there’s a level of rowing we need to get to. We're not as good as we would like to be or need to be,” said Bowden.“We did pretty well in the first three minutes but the wind really intensified and we just lacked composure.”Sydney Olympic champion Rowley Douglas coxed Molesey and Oxford Brookes to a fine victory over an American veteran crew from Penn in the Ladies Plate.Late in the day, the juniors of Westminster School and Marlow RC served up a thrilling race in front of the Stewards’ Enclosure, Marlow ‘A’ rowing through the school crew late on to win by a length.Schoolgirls raced at Henley Royal Regatta for the first time as the new Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls got under way on a rainy morning.Nottingham RC beat Walford Anglican School of Australia in the first race and Henley Rowing Club – one of the favourites - beat Headington School by 1 ¾  lengths in the following heat. "A number of the men's crews were looking at us as if to say, 'What are girls doing here?" said 17-year-old Joanna Unsworth, who rowed in the three seat for the local crew.Mike Sweeney, Chairman of the Regatta, said of the event: “We are confident that it will establish itself very quickly. We’re pleased with the 15-boat entry this year [which was reduced to eight by qualifying races last week] and think the quality of racing so far has been good."Saturday will see an all-British semi-final in the Diamond Challenge Sculls, after Loughborough Student Jonathan Walton upset selected American Mike Sivigny, proving more able in windy conditions, and Graeme Thomas – a World Cup finalist in Munich earlier this month - won his heat with ease.And three British schools will contest the semi-finals of the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup, with National Schools Regatta winners Abingdon facing Scotch College of Melbourne, while Radley face Hampton.The coxless fours from Tideway Scullers’ School and Nottingham RC ‘A’ will reprise last year’s Wyfold Challenge Cup semi-final, while Star Club – featuring three beaten finalists from last year’s eight – take on ANA RC of Australia. Star and Scullers also have coxed fours in contention for the Britannia Challenge Cup, having been given a day off on Friday.For further information contact Caroline Searle or Miranda Edwards in the Henley Royal Regatta press office on 01491 572153 or 01491 575056 press@hrr.co.uk or 07831 755351 http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=661Thu, 28 Jun 2012 20:31:50 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=655Upsets punctuated the second day of racing at a blustery Henley Royal Regatta, with North American school eights falling in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup and British clubs prospering in the Wyfold Challenge Cup for coxless fours.Chiswick club Tideway Scullers’ School beat the selected crew London ‘A’ by two lengths but were lucky to have even been in the race as they hit the wooden booms on the side of the course during Wednesday’s heat against Upper Yarra RC of Australia, before staging a comeback.In a hard-fought race on Thursday, Scullers trailed off the start but put in a strong mid-race push to win by two lengths. “We’ve certainly ridden our luck so far,” said coach Phil Rowley. “We knew they would lead us off the start but after our recent training camp in Hazewinkel [in Belgium] we were confident about our pace.”In all, eight of the crews selected by the Henley Stewards were beaten earlier than expected.Nottingham Rowing Club’s ‘A’ crew were 1 ½  lengths faster than Griffen BC in the Wyfold, while Shrewsbury School upset Ridley College of Canada and Gonzaga College High School were a length quicker than American compatriots Tabor Academy.Two British schools are still on course to meet in the final: Hampton School beat Americans Groton, and National Schools Regatta winners Abingdon inflicted a four-length defeat on Latymer Upper School, meaning an end to the Regatta for bowman Orlando Nixon, at 14 years and 10 months thought to be Henley’s youngest ever oarsman.The headwind increased in strength late in the day, making steering difficult. Star Club’s selected coxless four moved to the next round of the Wyfold when Tyrian were disqualified for steering into their rivals and, in the very next race, selected Walton’s junior quad lost to Prince Alfred College of Australia after they hit the wooden booms that line the course.The first women’s events of the Regatta began on Thursday but two of the British crews in the Remenham Challenge Cup were knocked out in the first round - Newcastle University by Munchen and Hurth of Germany and Thames RC/ Henley RC by Radcliffe Crew of Harvard University – leaving Great Britain’s European Championship entrants as the only home crew remaining. They have their first race on Friday.Also on Friday, Oxford University’s Alex Woods will return to top-level competitive rowing for the first time since April’s dramatic Boat Race, which saw a swimmer stop the crews, a restart, a clash that broke an Oxford blade and then Woods’ collapse after his crew were defeated.A now fit Woods, who had expected to retire after that race, will compete in a coxless four in the Stewards’ Challenge Cup at Henley, with three of his crew-mates from the 2012 Blue Boat: last year’s president Karl Hudspith, his successor Alex Davidson and American William Zeng.Woods, who was admitted to hospital after he collapsed in the Oxford boat on 7 April, said: “I still don’t understand what happened but we lost and that’s the difficult thing to come to terms with.“Now we have to look at the next Boat Race and at what we can do to win it.”Several other 2012 Boat Race competitors, from both universities, were knocked out of the Regatta on Thursday morning.Dan Harvey was in an Oxford University / Isis composite that hit the booms at the top of the island and went on to lose to Durham University by 4 ¼  lengths in the Visitors’ Challenge Cup.A Cambridge University / Leander crew featuring light blues Mike Thorp and Alex Ross was also knocked out of the same event, by Dutch crew ASR Nereus. German Hano Wienhausen – who rowed at six in that dark blue defeat – saw his Christ Church / 1829 crew beaten in controversial circumstances by Taurus BC. The race was restarted by umpire Boris Rankov after an early clash in neutral water and Wienhausen appealed unsuccessfully against the final verdict, claiming poor Taurus steering caused excessive wash.However Fred Gill, Cambridge’s winning Boat Race stroke in 2010, progressed through to Friday in a Molesey composite coxless four with Oxford Brookes University, beating Imperial College and University of London by 3 ¾  lengths.2000 Olympic champion Rowley Douglas will also start his Regatta on Friday, coxing Molesey and Oxford Brookes in the Ladies Plate.Douglas, who won in Sydney with the Great Britain eight 12 years ago, returned to the sport with Molesey in 2010, hoping to trial for the same seat again. He says he feels "a little bit cheated", having as he saw it not been given a fair chance to trial against the incumbent Phelan Hill, although a tribunal turned down his appeal over selection.“I said at the outset I would finish out the year because I love the sport and this is a great place to come and do it, with a club that has supported me the whole way through,” he said.For further information contact Caroline Searle or Miranda Edwards in the Henley Royal Regatta press office on 01491 572153 or 01491 575056 press@hrr.co.uk or 07831 755351http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=655Fri, 29 Jun 2012 16:26:37 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=657Schoolgirls raced at Henley Royal Regatta for the first time today as the new Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls got under way on a rainy, windy third morning of racing.Nottingham RC beat Walford Anglican School of Australia in the first race and Henley Rowing Club – one of the favourites - beat Headington School by 1¾ lengths in the following heat."A lot of the men's crews were looking at us as if to say, 'What are girls doing here?" said 17-year old Joanna Unsworth, who rowed in the three seat for the local crew, who won Henley Women’s Regatta earlier this month. "It was very different to any race we've done before, especially in the last 1000m with everyone supporting.""I thought it would be scarier but it was actually quite comforting knowing there are people there on the bank."Mike Sweeney, Chairman of the Regatta, said of the event: "We are confident that it will establish itself very quickly. We’re delighted with the 15-boat entry this year [which was reduced to eight boats by qualifying races last week] and think the quality of racing so far has been good."Henley coach Chris Boothroyd said more girls quads have raced throughout this season as a result of the Regatta Stewards’ announcement of the new event 18 months ago."Having the event will raise the status of girls' sculling; it's bound to," he said.Henley RC earlier this year received a grant from the Stewards Charitable Trust, which was established in 1988 to provide funds to support young people to row.Boothroyd said: "The money has allowed us to employ a number of coaches to help not only at this level but to bring on our 12- and 13-year-olds so we get a bigger base and improve across the whole range."The Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls is the fourth event for female rowers at the Regatta. The Remenham Challenge Cup for eights saw the selected crews race for the first time today, with the U23 German eight from Dortmund proving too strong for a Great Britain development crew from Leander and Sport Imperial.The Princess Grace Challenge Cup will feature four overseas crews tomorrow after the two British senior women’s quads were knocked out in first-round heats, Leander by the New Zealand under-23s from Waiariki RC.The Princess Royal Challenge Cup for single sculls got under way too, with Sanita Puspure, Ireland’s entrant for the London 2012 Olympics, recording an easy win over Pippa Whittaker of Nottingham RC.In the men’s events, Dan Ritchie and Tom Broadway – both former world silver medallists who have been unable to secure Olympic selection in the Great Britain eight – showed their weight and power in easily beating Italian lightweights Luca De Maria and Armando Dell'Aquila.An all-British semi-final of the Diamond Challenge Sculls is in prospect after Loughborough Student Jonathan Walton upset selected American Mike Sivigny, proving more able in windy conditions, and GB under-23 sculler Graeme Thomas eased past Luke Moon of Chiswick’s Tideway Scullers’ School.Moon’s club-mates continued their charmed life in the Wyfold Challenge Cup. The Tideway Scullers’ coxless four won despite clipping one of the wooden booms on the side of the course on Wednesday, and beat the selected London ‘A’ yesterday. This morning they had to restart their quarter-final against the Munich crew after a clash, then went a length down amid more clashes before pulling through to win.On Saturday they will face Nottingham ‘A’ in a re-match of last year’s semi-final."We've done everything in this boat now. It's quite a fun boat to be in. Hopefully we can keep going," said bowman Antony Smith.For further information contact Caroline Searle or Miranda Edwards in the Henley Royal Regatta press office on 01491 572153 or 01491 575056 press@hrr.co.uk or 07831 755351http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=657Thu, 28 Jun 2012 20:29:17 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=654Henley HeadlinesA blustery but sunny Henley witnessed some hot-tempered and exciting racing on day two.  Competition in all the rest of the senior events begins on Friday with 67 races scheduled between 08.30 and 19.20.Henshilwood kept busy at HenleyAlex Henshilwood, Melbourne University’s prize coach, is one of the busiest men at Henley and, despite seeing two crews go out already, still has a few irons in the fire.The former Great Britain lightweight international, who many regard as responsible for developing the talent of the GB eight’s strokeman Constantine Louloudis while at Eton College, saw his selected quad upset by Bayer Leverkusen in the Prince of Wales Challenge Cup on Thursday, after the Upper Yarra coxless four went down to Tideway Scullers in the Wyfold Challenge Cup on day one.But he said: “I’m looking after a really strong group of under-23 oarsman getting ready for the World Championships in Trakai, Lithuania, and I’m hopeful things will turn around.”Henshilwood, who coached Upper Yarra to victory in the Thames Challenge Cup last year, hopes that his crew in the Grand, rowing as National Centre of Rowing Excellence ‘B’, may cause a few waves when they open their account on Saturday.“I know we’re racing Brown University but I hope we’re good enough to take them on,” he said as he moved swiftly along the boat tents. “There’s not much time to stand still this year,” he explained.UL revival continuesUniversity of London last won the Prince Albert Cup for coxed fours in 2007 and their top crew are hoping to repeat the feat this year, upsetting selected Brown University of the USA.“I remember we weren’t a selected crew back then [in 2007] either,” said Olympian Dave Townsend, the brains behind UL’s recent revival. “Three of these boys will be in Britain’s Under-23 team and another in the European Championships – so we know they should give most crews a test.“What I’m really proud of is that the two guys in the middle of the boat had never touched an oar before they came to UL, so that just shows what we can do for people.”UL confirmed the fine form they showed in winning at the Metropolitan Regatta earlier this month, dominating their race against Brown on Thursday evening from the start to record an “easily” verdict.UL assistant says thanks to Henley StewardsA small part of  that recent UL’s revival is down to the Henley Stewards as, three years ago, assistant coach Phil Gray joined the Stewards’ Charitable Trust (SCT) Coaching Scholarship Scheme. Gray says he wouldn’t be in his current role without the benefits he gained from it.Starting with just two coaches in September 2002 the project is now supporting 14 coaches. Each SCT coach must undertake a two-year, part-time postgraduate course in coaching, sports development or the health/social related benefits of sport, while spending 20 hours per week coaching juniors. To date the Trust has donated £970,000 to the initiative.After completing his two-year stint, working with three clubs in Bath and Bristol, former Yarm schoolboy Gray, 26, took a job at the GB Rowing Team's Start centre at the University of Bath, and then moved on to UL.“It's been quite a quick progression through. If I hadn’t had the Steward's scholarship and been in the area, I definitely wouldn't have got that job and I wouldn’t be at UL now.“I want to be here to help make UL undisputedly the best university in the country and when that happens I'll see what else I can do.“Obviously in the future I would love to be a chief coach myself but I'm not thinking that far ahead yet.” Umpire keeps crews in orderA gondola crossing the course had a near miss with the Visitors’ Challenge Cup heat between Taurus BC and the composite of Christ Church and 1829 Boat Club but those concerned already had more than enough to handle.Taurus - the open club at Oxford Brookes University – and the composite, a mix of former Boat Race blues from both Oxford and Cambridge, clashed in neutral water off the start and were ordered back to the pontoons by umpire Boris Rankov.The re-started race was no better tempered, Taurus receiving numerous warnings for their steering before returning to their station, completing a two-length victory then receiving a lengthy telling-off from the umpire.The composite’s German stroke, Hano Wienhausen, who rowed at six in Oxford’s 2012 Boat Race defeat, appealed afterwards, claiming the Taurus wash had affected the outcome of the race, but the appeal was refused.Hampton cross every “T”If you’re a school eight aiming to win the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup, you cannot afford to miss a trick. So it was noted that when Hampton School crossed the line two lengths ahead of the powerful Americans from Groton School, they turned straight round to paddle back towards the start for a long wind-down.“We timed it just right for the lunch break,” said the eight’s coach Neil Double. “Before the lads went on the water, I checked if we would be allowed to turn straight round.”Double, is used to crossing every “T” and dotting every “I” and his crew showed why they are one of the favourites, rowing through the faster-starting Americans despite giving away over a stone and a half advantage per man.Double was able to draw on the experience of Alex Lloyd and Rob Wickstead - two 17-year-olds who have proved themselves the fastest junior rowers in Britain.Last year, they were part of the British eight that won a silver medal at the World Junior Championships.Hampton face further tough opposition from the USA in the form of Belmont School on Friday and Double said: “We’ve still got room for improvement.”Hampton provides Searle’s best Henley memoryHampton have some famous antecedents in the PE as Greg Searle, one of their old boys, recently described his victory in the event as a 16-year-old in 1988 as “maybe my best Henley ever”.A survey sent to some of the 270 living rowing Olympians – many of whom will gather at Henley on Sunday – reveals another man who felt the same race was his worst experience at the Regatta.Overall, Sir Matthew Pinsent enjoyed a stellar Henley career but described that loss, when he was at Eton College, as “totally demoralising for a young oarsman at the end of his school time”.Forty-year-old Searle, who will aim to win his second Olympic title in the eight at London 2012, 20 years after his first gold – won’t be at Henley this summer as the GB squad are currently in the middle of altitude training in the Austrian Alps.Coming up on FridayCox Rowley Douglas is drawing inspiration from Formula 1 great Michael Schumacher and Bridget Parker, Olympic equestrian champion in 1972, as he continues his comeback with Molesey and Oxford Brookes in the Ladies’ Plate, which starts on Friday.Douglas, an Olympic champion himself with the Great Britain eight 12 years ago, returned to the sport with Molesey in 2010, hoping to trial for the GB men’s eight again. He says he feels "a little bit cheated", having as he saw it not been given a fair chance to trial against the incumbent Phelan Hill, although a tribunal turned down his appeal over selection.Schumacher, Germany’s seven-times world champion, endured two years of failure on his comeback before returning to an F1 podium recently. Douglas recently met Parker, who was a reserve for the GB eventing team but was called into action at the last minute and won a gold medal.“I have that Schumacher mentality that you don't stop until its mathematically impossible. When the red light goes out on the start light at the final of the Olympics, the game's up and I'm not in,” said Douglas.“I'm not hoping for this - I'll make that very clear - but things happen and I might as well stay in good trim just in case.“I said at the outset I would finish out the year because I love the sport and this is a great place to come and do it, with a club that has supported me the whole way through.”Douglas was expecting to face Jamie Koven - the American double world champion whose own bid to reach the Olympics at the age of 39 fell short recently – but Koven, a Regatta Steward, opted not to row in the Penn eight and to concentrate on racing in a pair, saying: “I’m too old to double up.”London lightweight goes to great lengthsThe blustery headwind that has been a feature for much of the Regatta is unlikely to faze London Rowing Club single sculler Imogen Walsh, who faces Estonian Kaisa Pajusalu in the first round of the Princess Royal Challenge Cup on Friday.A week ago at the Regatta’s qualifying races, the headwind was gusting at up to 40mph and some female sculls took more than 10 minutes to cover the shorter course.Walsh, part of Great Britain’s second-choice lightweight double that will attend the European Championships in September, took desperate measures to deal with the conditions, having a centimetre cut off the end of her blades beforehand in order to set her gearing sufficiently. Overheard“Someone in the sponsors’ enclosures asked when Katherine Jenkins was singing. We had to tell her it wasn’t until next week.”- It was a good job one onlooker realised Welsh songstress Jenkins is performing at the Henley Festival, rather than the Royal Regatta“Where do you keep the fire extinguishers?”- A member of a coxless four in the Visitors’ Challenge Cup shouts to a friend who is putting the crew up in her mother’s house For further information contact Caroline Searle or Miranda Edwards in the Henley Royal Regatta press office on 01491 572153 or 01491 575056 press@hrr.co.uk or 07831 755351http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=654Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:33:44 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=653Oxford University’s Alex Woods has chosen Henley Royal Regatta as the scene for a return to top-level competitive rowing for the first time since April’s dramatic Boat Race, which saw a swimmer stop the crews, a restart, a clash that broke an Oxford blade and then Woods’ collapse after his crew were defeated.A now fit Woods, who had expected to retire after that eventually dramatic 2012 race, will compete in a coxless four in the Stewards’ Challenge Cup at Henley, with three of his crew-mates from the 2012 Blue Boat, including last year’s president Karl Hudspith, his successor Alex Davidson and American William Zeng.Oxford University's Alex WoodsPicture: Intersport ImagesIn the final year of a medical degree Woods, 27, will decide in September whether to make a Boat Race return in 2013.“Part of the reason for rowing this summer was so that if work [on the degree] is a bigger strain this year I’ll be physiologically more advanced,” he said. “And part of the motivation is to be able to look forward rather than seeing the Boat Race as a last swansong.“For those of us who have found it difficult, it is good to be able to move on and put the Boat Race in its box.”Woods, who was admitted to hospital after he collapsed in the Oxford boat on 7 April, continued: “I don’t remember much of the race and I haven’t quite had the courage to watch the race again in full.“I still don’t understand what happened but there was a white flag at the end [from the umpire, to signify a fair race], we lost and that’s the difficult thing to come to terms with.“Now we have to look at the next Boat Race and at what we can do to win it.”Woods spent some time competing in Summer Eights racing with Pembroke College before making up his mind whether to continue seriously.“The Boat Race was supposed to be my last big thing,” he said. “One reaction is that you don’t want to row again – it was a mixture of feelings.“I couldn’t do exercise for several weeks; it took time to recover and I had to have more tests in hospital.“I was lucky that I got into college rowing – it made a nice stepping stone back and let me remind myself of why I enjoy crew boats.”Oxford had considered the possibility of entering their Boat Race crew to race in the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley but work commitments prevented some members of the squad from continuing.“After the race we gave people a bit of time to make their minds up. It came down to four guys who were keen to push on,” said Woods, who will steer the crew from the three seat.“We could have got the Blue Boat back together but not at the level we would want. I don’t think being in the four is about proving ourselves and it might have been the case in the eight.“We rowed in this crew a lot during the winter. It has never quite fired quite as well this summer as it did then but we’ve tried some different combinations.”Oxford University face a strong Norwegian crew from Norske Studenters Roklub in Friday’s first round and the Australian Under-23 crew if they make it to Saturday’s semi-final.“The crews we’re racing are clearly good guys and it will be tough but there’s no way of making a final without beating tough crews,” Woods added.Several other 2012 Boat Race competitors, from both universities, were knocked out of the Regatta on Thursday morning.Dan Harvey was in an Oxford University / Isis composite that hit the wooden booms at the top of the island and went on to lose to Durham University by 4 ½  lengths in the Visitors Challenge Cup.A Cambridge University / Leander crew featuring light blues Mike Thorp and Alex Ross was also knocked out of the same event, by Dutch crew ASD Nereus.Fred Gill, Cambridge University’s winning Boat Race stroke in 2010, is part of a strong Molesey composite coxless four with Oxford Brookes University in the Visitors’ Challenge Cup. Drawn on the Buckinghamshire station, they face a tough challenge from Imperial College and University of London in their opener. For further information contact Caroline Searle or Miranda Edwards in the Henley Royal Regatta press office on 01491 572153 or 01491 575056 press@hrr.co.uk or 07831 755351 http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=653Wed, 27 Jun 2012 21:16:10 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=649Henley HeadlinesAfter a hectic opening day on Wednesday, featuring clubs, universities and schools as well as a row-past from Great Britain’s Paralympic team, Thursday will feature a 78-race programme, with six further events getting under way. Star start to overturn 2011 heartacheStar Club of Bedford took their first step in overturning last year’s disappointment at defeat in a Henley final, with two resounding victories on day one of the 2012 Royal Regatta.Seven of the oarsmen from the defeated Star eight have spread across two fours for this year. The coxed four upset fancied Eton Vikings by four lengths in the Britannia Challenge Cup in the morning, and the coxless four beat Nottingham RC “C” by a resounding five lengths in the Wyfold Challenge Cup late in the day.“We’re just a small provincial club that makes the most of what we’ve got,” said their coach, double Olympian Peter Mulkerrins.“We started coaching in 2004 and it’s been a building process. Success breeds success. We’ve used 31 people in that time and now have a squad of 10 people.”During his time in the British squad, Mulkerrins rowed under coaching legends Jurgen Grobler, Mike Spracklen and Harry Mahon and feels he has taken the best of all of them.“We take Jurgen’s approach over the winter, with lots of work on technique, rating 18 and 20,” he said. “Spracklen had some tough sessions, like 30 minutes rating 30, although we only have a 2k piece of river so it is split up.“Harry was as much about not stopping the boat as making it go faster.”London A have caught Mulkerrins’ eye in the Britannia Challenge Cup but he added: “We’ll focus on getting through to Sunday’s final then who ever we look across and see is whoever we look across and see.”Scullers surge for Oxford Blue’s first Henley winHe may be a Boat Race winner but when Ben Ellison’s four found themselves  half a length down on the seeded Phoenix coxed four in a heat of the Britannia Challenge Cup, the Dark Blue feared the worst.“I’ve never won a race at Henley,” explained the Tideway Scullers’ School oarsman, “and when the Aussie crew led us at the half mile, I thought I’d have to wait a little longer.”But the Scullers crew overturned the form book. Throwing in repeated mid-course attacks against a crew which contained two of Australia’s national club champions, Ellison’s crew began to make up the deficit. “Crossing the line was a great feeling,” said Ellison.The Scullers’ result helped make up for the club’s earlier disappointment in a heat of the Thames Challenge Cup. Half-way through the race, the seat of four man Ollie Williams broke.  Royal Chester were ahead at the time and went on to win, with the verdict: Not Rowed Out. Unbeaten Aggar takes Henley bowHe is unbeaten during a five-year international career; some of his scores in the weights room eclipse those of Great Britain’s Olympic squad, but Tom Aggar only made his Henley “debut” on Wednesday, when he was part of the GB Paralympic squad who rowed up the course through the enclosures for their formal unveiling.Aggar, multiple world champion in the arms-and-shoulders single scull, had to deal with the lunchtime wash as cruisers crowded around the booms but thoroughly enjoyed the experience.“It was a fantastic honour to go up the Thames in front of such an appreciative crowd at the most prestigious rowing event in the world,” he said.“We don't get opportunities to row on rivers that often so it was a fantastic experience. It got a little hairy out there at one point with all the different boats out on the water at the same time but we managed it in the end.” Orlando blooms for LatymerRacing at Henley Royal is often the highlight of many a career. So when the chance falls to a young lad who is yet to reach his 15th birthday, it really is something special.  On Wednesday, Orlando Nixon took that chance with both hands when his Latymer Upper eight took on the King’s School Chester in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup, racing level for much of the course before moving on to win by 1 and ¾  lengths.“It was a brilliant race!” said Latymer’s coach, the Beijing silver medallist Alastair Heathcote, whose policy of moving two boys from his National Schools-winning J15 crew into the first eight paid off.“Orlando’s been one of the best guys in our J15 eight. I’m not sure but we think he may be one of the youngest boys ever to race in an event like the PE.”Latymer’s neighbours in Hammersmith, Sons of the Thames, boasted the oldest competitor at the regatta, cox Peter Horton, who is three months short of his 67th birthday. They enjoyed a close race with Lea in the Thames Challenge Cup but were beaten by a length and a half.Boston schools enjoy exciting scrimmageWhile Hampton School easily dealt with local rivals St Paul’s in the first round of the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup, recording a 3 and ¾ -length verdict, another selected crew, Belmont High School, came through a far more nail-biting experience for a half-length victory over their local rivals, Boston College HS, having trailed at the three-quarter mileBelmont coach Chris Richards – who followed the race on his bike - had been expecting a tough race as the two crews have been “scrimmaging” on the Charles regularly.This is Belmont’s fifth trip to Henley in the last decade but the adverse weather conditions have meant a steep learning curve for the Bostonians, who have been in the UK for a fortnight, competing in the 40mph crosswinds of Marlow Regatta at Dorney then variable stream at Reading Town“There’s been a lot of current and crosswinds but the build-up has been very exciting for the guys. The boat tents started out empty and now they’re buzzing,” said Richards.Hackney meets HenleyCommunity programme “London Youth Rowing” appeared at the regatta for the first time as a quad racing as Lea Rowing Club which contained four boys from the local  Mossbourne College in Hackney.Maidenhead RC proved too strong for the Hackney foursome, though, winning by 3 and ¾ lengths.LYR receives some funding from the Stewards’ Charitable Trust, which was established by the governing body of the Regatta in 1988 to provide funds to support young people to row. At the end of 2011, the Trust had given away over £2.8m.None of the four rowed prior to April 2011. They were put through a talent identification system similar to that used by the Great Britain team’s Start programme to spot potential.LYR works with 75 schools in the London area, and 20 clubs.  Last year over 5,500 participants took part in their programmes or activities, including more than 250 young people with a disability.  Curlew find silver liningCurlew Rowing Club encountered their “worst case scenario” as their two crews were drawn together in the first round of the Thames Challenge Cup and allocated the first race of the day but coach Ray Cassidy saw the positives after Curlew A triumphed by 4 and ¾ lengths.“It was unfortunate that we raced at 8.30am and were drawn together but the silver lining is that we’ll have a crew there on Thursday,” said Cassidy, who had limited resources to select from.“We took a nice composite photo afterwards. That was our total rowing strength – 16 oarsmen. If we’d had an injury we would have been right up the creek. We had to use a sub last weekend who hadn’t rowed for two years.”Curlew’s clubhouse is on the Thames at Greenwich but they have trained for the last decade in calmer water at the Royal Docks and Cassidy added: “If it wasn’t for that we wouldn’t have qualified.”Coming up on ThursdayThursday sees the start of six further events, including the Diamond Challenge Sculls, where multiple world lightweight champion Duncan Grant and British Under-23 Graeme Thomas – who finished fourth at the recent Munich World Cup regatta – are among the men to watch.Dan Ritchie, stroke of the British eight that won two world silvers in 2010 and 2011 but missed out on an Olympic place because of injury, is in action in the Silver Goblets and Nickalls Challenge Cup for pairs, along with fellow GB squad member Tom Broadway.They could face two multi-talented Americans: former world champion Jamie Koven and world medallist Mike Blomquist - again two men who just failed to make the US eight for the Olympic regatta – in Sunday’s final.Ed Grisedale and Joe Guppy, Great Britain's top junior double, represent Northwich Rowing Club and Eastbourne Rowing Club respectively in the first round of the Double Sculls Challenge Cup, with selected crews gaining a bye to Friday.Two of the three British women's eights in the Remenham Challenge Cup are in action in a preliminary round, which has been expanded from eight to 10 crews this year. Thames RC and Henley RC take on Radcliffe Crew from Harvard University, while Newcastle University face Germans Munchener RC and Hurther RG.Fred Gill, Cambridge University’s winning Boat Race stroke in 2010, is part of a strong Molesey composite coxless four with Oxford Brookes University in the Visitors’ Challenge Cup. Drawn on the Buckinghamshire station, they face a tough challenge from Imperial College and University of London in their opener.Olympians row overTwenty two Olympic gold medals will be on display when 29 Olympians row the royal barge Gloriana over the course at 11.00am on Sunday.And there will be some distinguished silver medallists aboard too, including Michael Lapage and Paul Bircher, who competed in the GB eight in the 1948 Olympics.Guin Batten, one of Great Britain’s first female rowing silver medallists (and also the first woman to compete at Henley Royal Regatta) has previous experience of crewing the vessel, having taken part in the Queen’s Jubilee Pageant on the Thames.“I’m hoping to get into the ‘16’ seat again,” she said. “The pageant was absolutely amazing. It was amazing to see the river as it looked for probably the first time in 100 years, with a million people watching.“Sunday will be an opportunity to share something we all have shared in the past, and also to celebrate a very small part of our lives – but a part which has changed the main part of our lives.”Overheard“At the three-quarter mile, the University of Washington have increased their lead over Manchester United … Manchester University”- A rare slip from the public address system during the Temple Challenge CupFrom the boathouse“The fairytale is just being here. We have no boat house, we rent rack space and we haven't qualified for Henley in 20 years.”- Peter Brewer, coach of Parr’s Priory RC, who slipped out of the Thames Challenge Cup with a 4.75-length loss to City of BristolFor further information contact Caroline Searle or Miranda Edwards in the Henley Royal Regatta press office on 01491 572153 or 01491 575056 press@hrr.co.uk or 07831 755351 http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=649Wed, 27 Jun 2012 20:16:45 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=648Star Club of Bedford took their first step in overturning last year’s disappointment at defeat in a Henley final, with two resounding victories on day one of the 2012 Royal Regatta.Seven of the oarsmen from the defeated Star eight from last season have spread across two fours this year. The coxed four upset fancied Eton Vikings by four lengths in the Britannia Challenge Cup in the morning, and the coxless four beat Nottingham RC “C” by a resounding five lengths in the Wyfold Challenge Cup late in the day.“We’re just a small provincial club that makes the most of what we’ve got,” said their coach, double Olympian Peter Mulkerrins. “We’ll focus on getting through to Sunday’s final then whoever we look across and see is whoever we look across and see.”Wednesday is often a day when “selected” crews – who are allocated places in the draw on the basis of results this season – progress easily through the draw but Star and Tideway Scullers’ School both overturned the odds in the Britannia Challenge Cup.Scullers provided Oxford’s 2011 Boat Race winner Ben Ellison with his first victory in a race at Henley, as they rowed through Phoenix RC of South Australia to win by 1.5 lengths.“I’ve never won a race at Henley and when the Aussie crew led us at the half mile, I thought I’d have to wait a little longer,” said Ellison. “Crossing the line was a great feeling.”Another selected crew, the Americans from Belmont High School, came through a nail-biting race in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup for school eights. They beat their local rivals Boston College HS by half a length, having trailed at the three-quarter mile mark.“We’ve been scrimmaging with them back on the Charles so we knew they were strong guys and good racers,” said Belmont coach Chris Richards. “They pressed out early and took advantage but the stream evens out in the middle of the course and our game plan was to come through there.”The Regatta began in hectic fashion as club-mate beat club mate in the first race of the day and there was a disqualification in the third.East London club Curlew’s first eight was pitted against their B crew first thing on Wednesday morning in the Thames Challenge Cup, and duly won by 4.75 lengths.“We took a nice composite photo afterwards. It was unfortunate that we raced at 830am and were drawn together but the silver lining is that we’ll have a crew there on Thursday,” said their coach, Ray Cassidy.Potomac BC from Washington DC were the first of a record 133 overseas crews at the regatta to see action, in the Wyfold Challenge Cup for coxless fours. However they were disqualified for a clash with London Rowing Club’s B crew just a quarter of a mile down the course. Umpire Boris Rankov had already warned the Americans once for poor steering.Great Britain’s team for the London 2012 Paralympics was announced during Wednesday’s lunch interval and the four crews - including Tom Aggar, world and Paralympic champion in the arms-and-shoulders single scull – rowed down the Henley course through the enclosures."It was a fantastic honour to row in front of such an appreciative crowd at the most prestigious rowing event in the world,” said Aggar, who has never been beaten at international level during a five-year career""We don't get the opportunities to row on rivers that often so it was a fantastic experience."On Sunday, two members of Great Britain’s eight from the 1948 London Games will take to the water again as a group of Olympians row the royal barge Gloriana over the course at 11am. Michael Lapage and Paul Bircher, who were part of the crew that took silver on the Henley course 64 years ago, will row alongside members of the GB Olympic champion eight from Sydney in 2000.Six further events get under way on Thursday, including the Diamond Challenge Sculls, where multiple world lightweight champion Duncan Grant and British Under-23 Graeme Thomas – who finished fourth at the recent Munich World Cup regatta – are among the men to watch.Dan Ritchie, stroke of the British eight that won two world silvers in 2010 and 2011 but missed out on an Olympic place because of injury, is in action in the Silver Goblets and Nickalls’ Challenge Cup for pairs, along with fellow GB squad member Tom Broadway.They could face two multi-talented Americans: former world champion Jamie Koven and world medallist Mike Blomquist - again two men who just failed to make the US eight for the Olympic regatta – in Sunday’s final.Ed Grisedale and Joe Guppy, Great Britain's top junior double, represent Northwich Rowing Club and Eastbourne Rowing Club respectively in the first round of the Double Sculls Challenge Cup, with selected crews gaining a bye to Friday.Two of the three British women's eights in the Remenham Challenge Cup are in action in a preliminary round for the event, which has been expanded from eight to 10 crews this year. Thames RC and Henley RC take on Radcliffe Crew from Harvard University, while Newcastle University face Germans Munchener RC and Hurther RG.Fred Gill, Cambridge University’s winning Boat Race stroke in 2010, is part of a strong Molesey composite coxless four with Oxford Brookes University in the Visitors’ Challenge Cup. Drawn on the Buckinghamshire station, they face a tough challenge from Imperial College and University of London in their opener.For further information contact Caroline Searle or Miranda Edwards in the Henley Royal Regatta press office on 01491 572153 or 01491 575056 press@hrr.co.uk or 07831 755351http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=648Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:38:42 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=647Club-mate beat club mate in the first race of the day, there was a disqualification in the third and a fancied crew was knocked out early in an action-packed start to Henley Royal Regatta.East London club Curlew’s first eight was pitted against their B crew first thing on Wednesday morning in the Thames Challenge Cup, and duly won by 4.75 lengths.“We took a nice composite photo afterwards. It was unfortunate that we raced at 830am and were drawn together but the silver lining is that we’ll have a crew there on Thursday,” said their coach, Ray Cassidy.Potomac BC from Washington DC were the first of a record 133 overseas crews at the regatta to see action, in the Wyfold Challenge Cup for coxless fours. However they were disqualified for a clash with London Rowing Club’s B crew just a quarter of a mile down the course. Umpire Boris Rankov had already warned the Americans once for poor steering.Wednesday is often a day when “selected” crews – who are allocated places in the draw on the basis of results this season – progress easily through the draw but the coxed four from Star Club of Bedford upset the odds, beating Eton Vikings by four lengths in the Britannia Challenge Cup. The crew is made up entirely of oarsmen who last year reached the final of the Thames Challenge Cup for eights .“We’re just a small provincial club that makes the most of what we’ve got,” said their coach, double Olympian Peter Mulkerrins. “We’ll focus on getting through to Sunday’s final then who ever we look across and see is whoever we look across and see.”Another selected crew, Belmont High School, came through a nail-biting race in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup for junior eights. They beat their local rivals Boston College HS by half a length, having trailed at the threequarter mile mark.“We’ve been scrimmaging with them back on the Charles so we knew they were strong guys and good racers,” said Belmont coach Chris Richards. “They pressed out early and took advantage but the stream evens out in the middle of the course and our game plan was to come through there.”Favoured crews won two races between local rivals: the Thames A eight beat Sport Imperial by 1.5 lengths in the Thames Challenge Cup and Hampton School were too strong for St Paul’s, winning by 3.75 lengths in the PE.Great Britain’s team for the London 2012 Paralympics was announced during Wednesday’s lunch interval and the four crews - including Tom Aggar, world and Paralympic champion in the arms-and-shoulders single scull – rowed down the Henley course through the enclosures.“It was a fantastic honour to go down the Thames in front of such an appreciative crowd at the most prestigious rowing event in the world,” said Aggar, who has never been beaten at international level during a five-year career.“We don't get the opportunities to row on rivers that often so it was a fantastic experience.”On Sunday, two members of Great Britain’s eight from the 1948 London Games will take to the water again as a group of Olympians row the royal barge Gloriana over the course at 11.00am. Michael Lapage and Paul Bircher, who were part of the crew that took silver on the Henley course 64 years ago, will row alongside members of the GB Olympic champion eight from Sydney in 2000.Thursday sees the start of six further events, including the Diamond Challenge Sculls, where multiple world lightweight champion Duncan Grant and British Under-23 Graeme Thomas – who finished fourth at the recent Munich World Cup regatta – are among the men to watch.Dan Ritchie, the charismatic stroke of the British eight that won two world silvers in 2010 and 2011 but missed out on an Olympic place because of injury, is in action in the Silver Goblets and Nickalls’ Challenge Cup for pairs, along with fellow GB squad member Tom Broadway.They could face two multi-talented Americans: former world champion Jamie Koven and world medallist Mike Blomquist - again two men who just failed to make the US eight for the Olympic regatta – in Sunday’s final. Ed Grisedale and Joe Guppy, Great Britain's top junior double, represent Northwich Rowing Club and Eastbourne Rowing Club respectively in the first round of the Double Sculls Challenge Cup, with selected crews gaining a bye to Friday.Two of the three British women's eights in the Remenham Challenge Cup are in action in a preliminary round for the event, which has been expanded from eight to 10 crews this year. Thames RC and Henley RC take on Radcliffe Crew from Harvard University, while Newcastle University face Germans Munchener RC and Hurther RG.Fred Gill, Cambridge University’s winning Boat Race stroke in 2010, is part of a strong Molesey composite coxless four with Oxford Brooks University in the Visitors Challenge Cup. Drawn on the Buckinghamshire station, they face a tough challenge from Imperial College and University of London in their opener.For further information contact Caroline Searle or Miranda Edwards in the Henley Royal Regatta press office on 01491 572153 or 01491 575056 press@hrr.co.uk or 07831 755351http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=647Tue, 26 Jun 2012 20:01:03 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=644One of the three surviving Olympic rowing medallists from 1948, an Olympic champion from three decades ago - who will be in the middle of the action at London 2012 -  and another who will be competing at Henley this year are among the 170 rowing Olympians who will gather at the Royal Regatta on Sunday.Although no oarsmen or women at this year’s regatta will compete at the Games - which begin in exactly one month’s time, with rowing taking place 15 miles away at Dorney Lake – Henley’s ties to the Olympic movement remain strong.Paul Bircher rowed in the Great Britain men’s eight, which took silver 64 years ago, when the Olympic Regatta was raced over the Henley course. Now 83 years old, he attended Henley almost every year from 1946 until five years ago.Richard Budgett, a Regatta steward, won Olympic gold in a coxed four with Sir Steve Redgrave in 1984 but he thinks rowing in the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley was tougher. He is the Chief Medical Officer for London 2012, running a team of 200 medical volunteers across all sports.Rowley Douglas, who coxed the GB eight to gold in Sydney in 2000, is competing at this year’s Regatta, having made a competitive comeback two years ago. He was unsuccessful this year in a bid to regain the cox’s seat for the Olympic regatta.In all, there are thought to be about 270 living former rowing Olympians. 170 of them have accepted invitations from the Regatta to watch the racing on Finals Day.“One hundred and seventy is a pretty amazing collection,” said Chris Baillieu, an Olympic silver medallist and Henley Steward, who organised the event.“It’s a way of linking Henley to its past as it has been an Olympic venue twice, which is unique.”Paul Bircher and Michael Lapage from the British eight of 1948 will be the oldest Olympian at the event on Sunday. Another crew member, Chris Barton, lives in New Zealand.“My wife and I attended every year until five years ago as we lived in Sussex and it wasn’t too far,” said Mr Bircher. “Now we live in the depths of Somerset and it’s too much of an ordeal to come up to Henley with a picnic and everything.”Looking back to 1948 he remembers a tough race against the United States of America, who rowed Great Britain down to take gold, but also the camaraderie afterwards at the rowing dinner, something he fears may be lacking in the modern era.“We expected a tough race and it was. We came off the start well and for a short while were in the lead but unfortunately we couldn’t hold on.“I’ve watched all the World Cups on television this year and it is so much more serious now. We rowed because we enjoyed it; we wanted to win if we could but it wasn’t life or death. Even if we won, there were other things in life.“Today you’ve got to win or you’re completely defeated. In some ways it’s a pity but if Britain wants to maintain its place internationally we have to be professional.”Despite his Olympic success at Henley it was not until 1953 that Mr Bircher won at the Regatta, with Leander in the Grand Challenge Cup.As a Steward, Richard Budgett is usually a Henley regular but his work with London 2012 is keeping him away until the weekend this year.“I’m responsible for all the medical and anti-doping services at the Games,” he explained. “The sheer logistics of the event are the biggest challenge. We have 200 medical volunteers and have to get them recruited, rostered and involved with the right sport.”In terms of his favourite Olympic memories, Mr Budgett says watching his former crew-mate Sir Steve Redgrave win his fifth gold medal was a close second to his own experience of standing on top of the medal rostrum in 1984, saying, “there was a special connection, with Steve back in the four after 16 years.”He described racing in the eight at Henley as being even more difficult than battling for that Los Angeles gold, saying: “The Olympics, we expected to win but the Grand was tough!”Rowley Douglas and the Great Britain eight beat Australia in a nail-biting Olympic final in Sydney 12 years ago, reversing the result between the two in the Grand two months previously.  That eight also lost to Germany at Henley the previous summer.He blames the defeat on a failure to deal with the match-race format, and the extra psychological effects of being at Henley, for both crews.“Both years were straight finals, which was an added pressure and you have to rise to it, which we didn't. Both crews that beat us, we beat a week later at Lucerne. The Germans beat us quite well and a week later we put nine or 10 seconds on them that was just psychological,” said Mr Douglas.Australia were given extra ammunition by a perceived slight from the previous World Cup event in Vienna, when the British won."They were supercharged, off-the-charts angry. They came here to smash the Poms in their backyard. We were on the Bucks station", recalls Mr Douglas of the stations where conditions can sometimes play a part.  "If you have two crews who end up 0.8 sec apart in an Olympic final, you can't give one a handicap", he added.Now 35, Mr Douglas made a comeback to competitive coxing two years ago, aiming to gain a place in the Olympic squad. He was passed over for selection, and had a subsequent appeal turned down, but is coxing the Molesey Boat Club / Oxford Brookes composite eight in the Ladies Plate.Chris Ballieu, who with Mike Hart beat the Soviet double scull in Henley in 1973, three years before they won Olympic silver, has no doubt over the importance of the Regatta in the international scene.“Henley provided a key race in my career when we beat the Olympic champions,” he said. “If you race the best in the world side by side you learn things you wouldn’t learn in six-lane, 2000m racing.”“It’s interesting that the top teams from around the world still come to Henley. They would say it’s highly important, both because of the standard of the racing and because it is unique!”For further information contact Caroline Searle or Miranda Edwards in the Henley Royal Regatta press office on: 01491 575056 or (01491) 572 153 or press@hrr.co.uk or 07831 755351http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=644Tue, 26 Jun 2012 19:52:38 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=642Today at HenleyClubs, schools and universities get the Regatta under wayHampton begin with a bangIf the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup goes according to the selections, Hampton School could meet Abingdon in Sunday’s final, having finished just behind them in the National Schools Regatta final, but rivals from far and very near stand in their way.Director of rowing Colin Greenway has been “trawling the internet” to find out more on the American and Canadian crews from Tabor Academy, Belmont Hill and Ridley College, and he is particularly wary of the Australians from Scotch College, Melbourne.But first his crew face St Paul’s School, coached by Bobby Thatcher, who were less than five seconds behind Hampton at Nat Schools.“The boys will certainly know they're in the regatta from day one. If they don't pull out a good race they could slip up, without a doubt,” said Greenway.“We're trying to develop a hugely competitive spirit but also a level of respect. We try to make sure there's a friendly rivalry - nothing more.” Trapmore hopes Goldie will shineCambridge University coach Steve Trapmore knows the odds are against the Goldie coxed four who meet selected Newcastle University in the Prince Albert Challenge Cup on Wednesday evening but he is pleased with the progress of the members of the Cambridge development squad already this summer.Two members of this year’s winning Blue Boat came via the same route, having learnt to row at the university.“I’m really pleased that the development crew got through qualifiers. For these guys the carrot is that they can get a race at Henley and if they get there, they’re hooked. It’s an experience you can’t get anywhere else.“Like the Boat Race squad, there’s a big mix of people: a couple who have come through schools and colleges and a couple who only started rowing at college last September and October.”Thames look to start strongly in the Thames CupThe draw in Wednesday’s opening races for the Thames Challenge Cup for club eights has thrown up a real cracker. The selected Thames RC – who many fancy to win – have been drawn against Sport Imperial BC.Thames have spent much of the summer training from Kingston RC, to avoid the navigation restrictions that have been in place in Putney for much of the last two months, with the placing of large yellow buoys along the Crabtree reach ahead of the Queen’s Jubilee Pageant.The first of the day in the Thames Cup is an intra-club clash between Curlew A and Curlew B.A titanic struggle also awaits the crews of Star Club and Nottingham in the Wyfold Challenge Cup. The four of Star Club, whose eight reached the Thames Challenge Cup final last year, have been selected. But Nottingham have shown real quality through the season. Both crews know this is a contest that could be decided only in the last few strokes. Henley’s oldest oarsman?A quick leaf through the records was insufficient to confirm but, at 52 years old, Mark Welles of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s Wyfold four must be a contender for the regatta’s oldest ever oarsman.Welles, a former lightweight at the University of Pennsylvania, can still get into his lightweight t-shirt, according to rowing manager Jonathan Cantwell.Peter Horton, cox of the Sons of the Thames eight in the Thames Challenge Cup, is this year’s oldest competitor, three months short of his 67th birthday.Redgrave ponders Henley’s best qualitySir Steve Redgrave was a multiple Henley winner as well as a five-time Olympic champion but the Regatta has left him with a conundrum."I have always enjoyed racing at Henley but it is difficult to say which was best: the atmosphere, the side-by-side racing or being close to home," he said."There is no other race like it in the world. It’s the closest that rowers will ever get to competing in a stadium. And all this is just a few miles away from where I live, giving the opportunity of friends and family to watch me race."Alongside all those wins, one defeat has stuck with him. Perhaps that result from 26 years ago will give New Zealand's lightweight world champion single sculler Duncan Grant some heart as he weighs up the opposition in this year’s Diamond Challenge Sculls, which begins on Thursday."One of my worst results was in the Diamonds," said Sir Steve. "I was beaten in the final by a Danish lightweight [Bjarne] Eltang in 1986."He was lightweight world champion at the time but I learnt a valuable lesson of never underestimating your opposition, whoever they may be."Budgett cutContrary to our suggestion yesterday, the Tideway Scullers School entry in the Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls does not contain Saskia Budgett, daughter of 1984 Olympic champion Richard as she was not selected for the final foursome."There was a chance she might be in it but as a 15-year-old getting into a J18 event was always going to be difficult," said Richard, a Regatta Steward."She won the J15 doubles and quads at National Schools. I think I take far more of an interest in her rowing than in any other sport she does." From the boathouse"My favourite memories? I really enjoyed my two years in the national eight, paddling down in the mornings, first thing, with the mist on the water and maybe a few people on the bank who know full well who is coming past. There's an absolute definition about the movements, the focus and the boat speed that singles you out as one of the elite crews. You're going about your business but you know full well you're the big shark in the water."- Rowley Douglas, who coxed the Great Britain eight in 1999 and 2000, and is back with Molesey BC / Oxford Brookes in the Ladies Plate this year"There is no better place to be. It’s the biggest stage in rowing and the best regatta in the world."- Robin Fletcher, coach of the Monmouth School eight who face Shrewsbury School on Wednesday in the first round of the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup For further information contact:Caroline Searle or Miranda Edwards in the Henley Royal Regatta press office on01491 572153 or 01491 575056 press@hrr.co.uk or 07831 755351http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=642Sat, 23 Jun 2012 16:01:23 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=640Download The Draw 2012 as a PDF file here.http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=640Tue, 19 Jun 2012 17:58:58 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=638If there are any competitors who are unable to row at specific times for genuine reasons then they may make a written request, on the appropriate form, to the Committee via the Crews’ Enquiry Office.Please note that any such request for a race on Wednesday 27th June must be received by 10.00 a.m. on Sunday 24th June. Any requests received after this time will not be accepted.The Wednesday racing programme will be prepared on the Sunday morning and will be posted on the Crew Notice Board by 2.00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. It will also be posted on the Regatta website later on Sunday afternoon.M.A. SweeneyChairmanhttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=638Tue, 19 Jun 2012 10:18:50 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=637The Committee has reviewed the entry of Ruder Club Hansa von 1898 e.V. Dortmund, Germany in The Thames Challenge Cup and has determined that this entry is, under General Rule 3, an inappropriate entry in this event. The crew has been moved into The Ladies' Challenge Plate.http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=637Mon, 18 Jun 2012 11:22:34 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=633The Committee are pleased to recognise the fine performance of the Henley Rowing Club crew in winning the Junior Quadruple Sculls at Henley Women’s Regatta. This crew is no longer required to compete in the Qualifying Races on Friday 22nd June.The remaining 12 crews in the Qualifying Races will now be competing for five places in the Regatta.http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=633Wed, 13 Jun 2012 20:38:49 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=631View the List of 2012 EntriesA record number of 133 overseas crews have entered this year’s event, easily breaking the previous record of 126 overseas crews set in the 150th Anniversary year back in 1989. Twenty one overseas nations are represented, the second highest number ever. There are 499 crews entered in total.In the absence of the top Olympic crews – all in training camps in preparation for the London Olympic Games – the open events at Henley have attracted a wide variety of entries. The Australians, Canadians, Germans and New Zealanders have entered crews from their Teams preparing for the World Under 23 Championships in Lithuania in mid July. The Americans, Danes, Norwegians and South Africans have entered crews that missed out on Olympic Qualification. The Italians and Dutch have entered some of their national lightweight crews preparing for the World Championships in Bulgaria in August. The outcome of the top events looks set to be fascinatingly unpredictable.The seven crews that have entered The Grand Challenge Cup, the top event for men’s eights, reflect perfectly the diversity of backgrounds. The two eights from NRCE, Australia and the eight from Ratzeburg Training Center, Germany are World Under 23 crews. The eights from The Netherlands and Italy are the national lightweight crews. The eight from California Rowing Club is made up from rowers who missed out on Olympic selection in the USA and Brown University is the fastest University crew on the east coast of America.The number and quality of the crews entered in The Remenham Challenge Cup, the top event for women’s eights, has prompted the Committee to increase the number of crews racing in the Regatta from eight to ten.The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup for schoolboy eights has attracted a massive entry of 46 crews, including 11 crews from overseas. There will be some tremendous racing as the UK schools attempt to repel the invaders. Fifteen clubs have entered The Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls, three from overseas, an excellent first entry for this brand new event.The Chairman of the Committee of Management, Mike Sweeney, said "I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to attract such an interesting and high quality entry for this year’s Regatta. This augurs well, despite the absence of the Olympic crews, for some close and exciting racing."Any further information required can be obtained from Caroline Searle, the Regatta Press Officer, + 44 7831 755 351 http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=631Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:38:17 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=621Clubs are reminded that there has been a change to the age limit for The Fawley Challenge Cup – "No one shall compete who will have attained his eighteenth birthday before the first day of September preceding the event." The new event for Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls has the same age limit.This year racing in The Fawley Challenge Cup will start on Wednesday 27th June and there will not be two rounds on the Saturday.Racing in the Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls will take place over three days – Friday 29th June to Sunday 1st July.http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=621Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:59:47 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=619Three of Henley Royal Regatta’s historic umpires’ launches have had a complete facelift just in time to go on secondment to this weekend’s Boat Race.Ariadne, Argonaut and Ulysses  set out from Henley this morning down the Thames. Built in the early 1990s, the launches have been maintained annually, but after 20 years sterling service and exposure to sunlight they required major refurbishment of the woodwork, varnish and chrome.The launches were sent to Creative Marine in Norfolk for the work to be undertaken.Creative Marine is run by Roy Lawson and Simon Reed who worked for the original manufacturer and rescued the hull mould when the manufacturer went out of business. They used this mould to construct the Regatta's fourth Umpire's Launch, Herakles, in 2008.The refurbishment took five months to complete.  At 50 feet long and weighing four tonnes, each launch was transported to Norfolk on specially adapted articulated lorries.Mike Sweeney, Chairman of the Regatta said"The launches have been refurbished to the highest standard and we are absolutely delighted with the quality of the craftsmanship."The 2012 Regatta will be held from 27th June – 1st July.For further information contact eitherHenley Royal Regatta Press Office on (07831) 755351D. G. M. Grist,The Secretary, Henley Royal Regatta,Regatta Headquarters, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 2LYTelephone 01491-572153http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=619Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:12:57 +0000Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=5981. Amendments to the Qualification & General Rules for 20122. Election of Steward3. Committee of Management for 2012Election of StewardHenley Royal Regatta today recognised one of rowing’s top female performers when Guin Batten was elected as a Steward of the Regatta.Batten was in the crew that won Britain’s first female Olympic medal of all time when she was part of the GB quadruple scull that took silver at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney alongside Katherine Grainger who is also a Henley Steward.Previously she had competed at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta in the single scull.Since retiring Batten, who has a Master’s Degree in Sport Science from the University of Loughborough, has been active (2005 – 2009) in supporting the current crop of top international rowers through her work with the FISA (World Rowing Federation) Athletes’ Commission. In 2010 she was elected as Chair of the Rowing for All Commission.In 2003 she set the record for the fastest solo crossing of the English Channel in a rowing shell (Olympic Class), crossing in a time of 3 hours and 14 minutes.Guin is Head of Research & Innovation at the Youth Sport Trust and has been an active advocate of promoting the role of women in sport.Today the Regatta also introduced a new event for junior women – the Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls which will be raced for the first time in 2012.  This will be open to U18 crews. 7th December, 2011For further information contact: D. G. M. Grist,The Secretary, Henley Royal Regatta,Regatta Headquarters, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 2LYTelephone 01491-572153 http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=598Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:13:43 +0000Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=5991. Amendments to the Qualification & General Rules for 20122. Election of Steward3. Committee of Management for 2012Amendments to the Qualification & General Rules for 2012The Fawley Challenge Cup – New Age LimitThe Stewards have decided to change the age limit and to revert to the pre-1997 age limit for The Fawley Challenge Cup (JM4x) i.e.:“No one shall compete who will have attained his eighteenth birthday before the first day of September preceding the event.”This age limit is the same as the age limit for junior competitors in the British Rowing Racing Rules. It has been decided that it would be better for there to be consistency between the Henley Rules and the British Rowing Racing Rules with regard to junior scullers competing in The Fawley Challenge Cup.No change is proposed to the age limit for The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup: “No one shall compete who will have attained his nineteenth birthday by  the end of the Regatta”. Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls – New EventA new event for Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls (JW4x), restricted to eight crews, will be raced for the first time in 2012.The Qualification Rules for this new event will be the same as those for The Fawley Challenge Cup, including the new age limit:“No one shall compete who will have attained her eighteenth birthday before the first day of September preceding the event.” Reduced numbers allowed in small boat eventsThe prescribed number of entries has been reduced from 16 to 12 for the three men’s small boat events:The Silver Goblets and Nickalls’ Challenge Cup (M2-)The Double Sculls Challenge Cup (M2x)The Diamond Challenge Sculls (M1x)7th December, 2011For further information contact: D. G. M. Grist,The Secretary, Henley Royal Regatta,Regatta Headquarters, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 2LYTelephone 01491-572153 http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=599Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:12:14 +0000Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=5971. Amendments to the Qualification & General Rules for 20122. Election of Steward3. Committee of Management for 2012Committee of Management for 2012Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medallist Ben Hunt-Davis has today been appointed to the Committee of Management of Henley Royal Regatta.Hunt-Davis steps up to replace the retiring Chris Baillieu who had served on the Committee for the past 24 years.  Baillieu was himself a rowing Olympian, taking silver in the men’s double sculls in 1976 and was Chairman of British Swimming from 2007 - 2008. He was also one of the founder members of the British Olympians.Hunt-Davis joins after 9 years as a Steward and in the wake of a successful role as Chair of the Organising Committee for the recent World Junior Rowing Championships at Eton-Dorney which doubled as the official Olympic Test Event.Accordingly, the Committee of Management for 2012 is as follows:Mr. M. A. SweeneyDr. I. ReidMr. R. C. LesterMr. F. J. SmallboneMr. M. D. WilliamsProfessor N. B. RankovSir Steve Redgrave, C.B.E.Mr. R. C. PhelpsMr. B. M. EdwardsMr. R. C. StanhopeMr. G. W. HammondMr. F. B. Hunt-Davis, M.B.E.7th December, 2011For further information contact: D. G. M. Grist,The Secretary, Henley Royal Regatta,Regatta Headquarters, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 2LYTelephone 01491-572153http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=597Thu, 20 Jan 2011 09:00:01 +0000Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=400 See also: Amendments to the Qualification & General Rules for 2011 Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls Event The Stewards have decided to introduce an event for Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls at the 2012 Regatta. The event will be offered for eight quads racing in the Regatta and there will be Qualifying Races. The introduction of this new event is being announced now, well in advance of the 2012 Regatta, in order to allow clubs, schools and coaches an extended period of preparation. It is hoped that both the National Schools’ Regatta and Henley Women’s Regatta will see significantly increased numbers of entries in this category at their 2011 events. The Qualification Rules for this event will be the same as for The Fawley Challenge Cup for Junior Men. 8th December 2010 For further information contact: D. G. M. Grist,  The Secretary Henley Royal Regatta Regatta Headquarters Henley-on-Thames Oxfordshire  RG9 2LY Telephone 01491-572153http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=400