http://www.hrr.co.ukRSS Feed of the latest news for Henley Royal RegattaTue, 06 Mar 2012 10:07:42 +0000Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=607Henley 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.Those wishing to apply for a position should download and complete the following application form.Application Letter (pdf)Temporary Employment Application Form (pdf) Temporary Employment in the Stewards' EnclosureThe Regatta's Official Caterers are seeking temporary staff to work in the Stewards' Enclosure.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=607Wed, 25 Apr 2012 08:58:36 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=622The Regatta's Official Caterers are seeking temporary staff to work in the Stewards' Enclosure.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=622Mon, 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=597Sun, 03 Jul 2011 19:20:08 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=418Daily briefing notes from the Press Office at Henley Royal RegattaToday at HenleyWhen the German eight broke all the course records to win the Grand Challenge Cup in style from the British national crew, it symbolised a fantastic Regatta where new times were set, World Champions were overthrown and the massive crowds got the chance to see their Olympic heroes perform with just over a year to go before the London Olympics.The Grand’s record had stood since 1989, when it was set by a German eight coached by Ralf Holtmeyer. Twenty-two years later, the same man produced a new crew to finally crack that time and they did so from the first stroke. Despite a spirited burst in the middle, the British could never get on terms to challenge the Germans and went down by one length.But Henley’s course showed that it is no respecter of World Champions, when the British quadruple sculls produced a stunning race to defeat an outstanding Croatian crew. The British coach Mark Banks showed why he is such a superb technical coach, when his crew kept their cool in the face of repeated Croatian challenges.  For the British, to win by over a length, must have been beyond their pre-race dreams.The GB quadruple sculls’ victory came in the middle of an outstanding series of British wins. There were five in the Regatta’s major international events. The Leander and Molesey crew showed why they have established themselves as the world’s best four this year by breaking their own course record on the way to defeating a strong USA crew by the significant margin of two and a half lengths. The British were never headed during the race.The same was not the case for Hodge and Reed in the Silver Goblets and Nickall’s Challenge Cup, who were led early on by their Italian opposition. But, unlike in 2010 when the British men’s pair lost to New Zealand, the men from Leander and Molesey were not fazed. They got their noses in front by the 1/4 mile and proceeded to power away. Their sprint finish was simply awesome and meant that they not only recorded an “Easily” verdict over the Italians but also equalled Redgrave and Pinsent’s legendary time of 6:56, set in 1995.There were no new records for Marcus Bateman and Matt Wells today in the Double Sculls Challenge Cup. But that will not have bothered them in the least, especially since in winning by two and a half lengths, they beat the Australians who are the reigning Olympic Champions. Once more the British established an early lead. When they crossed the line, Matt Wells was jubilant. Just three years ago, the Leander man had to settle for a bronze medal behind the Australians in Beijing.By contrast, the US women’s eight, who also won in Beijing, were in no mood to surrender their dominance in the Remenham Challenge Cup here. The crew coached by Tom Tehrar defeated the British national crew by a length and three-quarters and set a record time in the process. But the British could realistically think that this result showed that their crew was continuing to make progress.The American women’s quadruple was also in sparkling form as it defeated a very strong Australian crew, with a lower rate of striking.   Esther Lofgren was part of this quad as well as the US Remenham eight, giving her two titles in a day.But in the Princess Royal Challenge Cup, the US single sculler Genevieve Stone had to suffer a second successive defeat to the Czech Republic’s Mirka Knapkova, sculling here in a borrowed British boat.The Diamond Sculls Challenge Cups was won for the third time by Alan Campbell, who beat the Australian Nick Hudson easily.Germans take the Ladies’ Plate but Leander strike twiceThe German eight from Berliner R.C. did not have an easy race as they came from behind to defeat a Leander crew that gave their all in the final of the Ladies’ Plate. But the Henley-based club, famous for its salmon pink livery, did make amends with their oarsmen winning two more of the intermediate level events.Though Tideway Scullers’ men pressed hard all the way down the course, they could not prevent Leander’s quadruple scull from winning the Prince of Wales Challenge Cup by a length. The Leander men were rewarded for their efforts by setting a new course record. And three of the men who powered the Leander and Imperial College four repeated last year’s success – this time against the only Irish crew represented in this year’s Henley’s finals.Three of the London four that won the Wyfolds Challenge Cup this year against Nottingham B.C. had tasted an agonising defeat last year against the men of Nottingham and Union RC. This year, though, they made no mistakes and led from pillar to post, winning by two lengths.Although Upper Yarra R.C., the race favourites, led their final of the Thames Challenge Cup all the way, they were harried all the way by an outstanding British club crew from Star R.C. The relatively narrow margin of one length will have been some comfort to the Bedford based crew.There was also a close verdict in the Britannia Challenge Cup won by Banks R.C. of Australia but that came as scant comfort to the London R.C. crew who had three from four of last year’s runners-up on board.The Temple Challenge Cup for student eights seemed to have the name of Cal Berkeley’s freshmen written on it from the off. Their margin of victory over the Dutch students was a comprehensive four and a half lengths. But Harvard made sure they didn’t come away from the Regatta empty handed when they came from behind to win a very close race and break the hearts of the Oxford Brookes four in the Prince Albert Cup.Abingdon School’s win in the Princess Elizabeth Cup for schoolboy eights had just as much excitement. But the British crew rowed an incredibly mature race to hold off every challenge from St Andrew’s school of the USA and take the coveted trophy by a length and three quarters.The winning distance was greater in the Fawley Challenge Cup for junior quadruple sculls which was won by Sydney R.C. But both Walton and Sydney had to fight their way to the top of an incredible 77 crews. It was an outstanding achievement for both boats and a fitting event to bring the curtain down on a marvellous regatta.From the boathouseMervyn Lee, coach for Quintin Boat Club“I’ve been involved in rowing for more than 20 years at Henley as a coach. The weather this year just makes it fair racing and it is great to see the records dropping. I’m a bit concerned by the standard of the club rowing on the Wednesday. It isn’t as good as it could be. The rest of the rowing has been as good as it ever is though.”Steve Bardens, photographer, Corbis Sports“The Americans want pictures of all the blazers, they love them. I work for an American photo library and they want lots of shots of all the blazers and badges in front of the boathouse. This is probably the only event that has a spectator uniform as such. I shoot a lot of football and you are almost getting into that territory of people wearing badges and uniform. But there are just so many different ones here. So much history with each one. I would love to have a book of them all. The rowing is important but it is also about the event and the social occasion.”Corporal Mike Ball, 26, Royal Marine Commandos’ Thames ChallengeInjured Marines rowing the length of the Thames to raise awareness and funds.“We’ve had nine rowing lessons. Only one of us has been in a boat before. We’ve been picking up some tips from today. And we’ll have to see if we can get some nice lycra outfits as well.”  www.thameschallenge.comThe press office at the Regatta can be contacted on: press@hrr.co.ukhttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=418Sun, 03 Jul 2011 08:12:09 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=417Daily briefing notes from the Press Office at Henley Royal RegattaToday at HenleyToday is Finals day at the Henley Royal Regatta with a programme of races starting at 11.30am.  A host of Olympic and World Champions will be in action from across the world.  Trophies for the winners will be presented by Sir Chris Hoy MBE the triple Olympic cycling champion at Beijing 2008.Yesterday at HenleyThe GB Rowing Team eight beat Australia’s national team eight in the Grand Challenge Cup semi-finals on a day of high drama at Henley Royal Regatta. By doing so, the British eight laid to rest their semi-final blues from last year when they unexpectedly lost to New Zealand. Their time of 5:59 was only one second off Germany’s 1989 record. The British crew, with veteran Olympian Greg Searle on board, will now face the re-vamped German world champions in Sunday’s final.The Stewards’ Challenge Cup for men’s fours saw a major upset when the fancied Australian crew, with the legendary Drew Ginn on board, went down to the USA’s top four by three-quarters of a length. The verdict confirmed a great day for a USA men’s team on the comeback trail – their new eight was only narrowly defeated by Germany in the other Grand semi-final.The American women’s eight have consistently remained at the top of world rowing for some time now. They looked in complete control as they beat a British crew containing U23 oarswomen in the Remenham Challenge Cup. Today they will face a stronger home challenge from the British women’s eight, who progressed comfortably in their semi-final against Oxford Brookes and Molesey.And the big crowds watching from the bank had the chance to applaud some more great performances from Britain’s 2012 Olympic hopefuls. Triggs-Hodge and Reed looked imperious in disposing of a very strong Greek pair with an‘easily’ verdict in the Silver Goblets and Nickall’s Challenge Cup for men’s pairs. They will face Italy on Sunday for the title. Earlier, Britain’s classy new four, with Olympic champion Tom James on board comfortably beat a strong crew from Belarus in the Stewards’ Challenge Cup.The verdicts weren’t so comfortable in the Double Sculls Challenge Cup, where Britain’s Wells and Bateman beat an improving USA double by three-quarters of a length. The British were thrilled, though, by the speed of their boat over the course. All three course records fell to them and the British finished in 6:50.There were no records in the Queen Mother Challenge Cup for quadruple sculls in which the British crew’s victory over another strong USA entry was impressive. They controlled the race and booked a place in today’s final against the Croatian reigning World Champions. The Croatians controlled their semi-final against Australia impressively. An Australian women’s quadruples sculls containing their heavyweight and lightweight doubles beat a very strong USA crew impressively.The same was true of Cal’s freshman eight, who were once again in awesome form as they beat their rivals from Harvard by a length and a quarter. And Harvard had to taste another defeat when their all-conquering Varsity eight were beaten just afterwards by a magnificent Leander performance in the Ladies’ Plate.Two incidents made sure that the Wyfold Challenge Cup was packed full of drama. First London’s A crew were hit by a canoe on the way to the start. The collision damaged their boat, necessitating their coaching team to change boats, for a later race. Then Nottingham BC headed Tideway Scullers School in their semi-final by three-quarters of a length, only for Scullers to successfully appeal after chunks of weed became attached to their rudder just after the start.Truly amazingMartin Sinkovic simply could not believe the noise from the Henley crowds as his world champion quadruple scull tasted the unique atmosphere at the Royal Regatta for the first time. “It’s truly amazing”, said the 21 year old Croatian. “There are people shouting for you, or drinking and just making lots of noise. I’ve never experienced anything like it. You have to really focus”.Sinkovic’s crew recorded a one-length victory over Australia, who had beaten Poland’s Olympic champions on Friday. “They gave us a really tough race but when you get a lead in this type of racing you can control the race more easily”, said SinkovicThe Croatians came to Henley after an amazing win in the last World Cup regatta in Hamburg, where they grabbed a last-gasp victory over a seemingly invincible German crew. “That was a really, really tough race but we were so pleased to have won it”, said Sinkovic who added: “Tomorrow I think we’ll have another tough race against the British quad, especially because they have the home support. But we won’t make it easy for them”.A small club success storyStar Club’s victory after overhauling Thames R.C. at the Mile marker in the semi-final of the Thames Challenge Cup was a stunning result but also a real small club success story. It was crafted by former Olympic rower and Bedford stalwart, Pete Mulkerrins. His coaching efforts have proved that clubs like Star can challenge at the top end of Henley’s big events.“It’s a David versus Goliath story”, said Mulkerrins. “When I look at the size of my lads shaking hands with their opposition I have a real laugh. Our strokeman is only 5’6”!”  Mulkerrins went on to explain how Star’s members had clubbed together to rent a new boat for the crew, rather than their six year-old shell.That spirit made the crew determined to take a crack at the Thames Challenge Cup.“We had a talk after the Met Regatta and the boys said they wanted to go for the eight. So we avoided racing at Marlow and went up to Chester for a week’s camp”, said Mulkerrins.So the crew that will race in Sunday’s final was brought together from Club rowers and juniors, from both private and state schools, some of whom learnt to row in Star’s Project Oarsome scheme. “Callum Beasley is a great example of someone from a state school who has come up through the ranks and is now a contender for junior selection”, said a delighted Mulkerrins, who tried to follow the race on his bike!Ripping up the record booksThe Freshmen of University of California, Berkeley, who have been ripping up the record books in the Temple Challenge Cup have done so despite losing their two Serbian rowers in the seven and eight seats for the month before Henley.  Igor Lucic and Luka Djordjevic flew home from America at the start of June for under-23 national team trials and only rejoined the “Cal” team on Monday in Henley - two days before racing began.Their coach Wyatt Allen watched his crew defeat a strong freshman eight from Harvard and praised his team's professionalism for dealing with the situation in the weeks running up to Henley."The first day they definitely went out with some nerves. Thankfully we had two good guys joining as spares, filling in and allowing the team to train hard”, he said.The Cal crew equalled the record to the Barrier and set a new one of 2:57 to Fawley which came as a surprise to Allen. "It looked like it was dead still with no tailwind so I didn't expect it," he said. "It is credit to Harvard as they were obviously going quickly as well."  They face ASR Nereus from Holland in the final.Pit-stopWhen it comes to pit stops, the Red Bull mechanics have nothing on London Rowing Club’s team of coaches. The entire team lead by British international coach Paul Reedy clustered round the damaged ‘A’ crew’s shell after it had sustained damage to the bows following a collision with a canoe.Reedy knew immediately that they would need to use their ‘B’ crew’s boat which meant completely re-rigging the boat because the riggers were on different sides. Helped initially by six coaches, Reedy quickly whittled the pit-stop crew down to two. “Actually, it was easier when just me and Phil were working on the boat ourselves”.  Not that he wasn’t grateful for the initial team of helpers.Marines arrive in HenleyRoyal Marines Commandos recovering from wounds, injury or illness - mostly sustained on operations with 40 Commando in Afghanistan last year - will be rowing the length of the Thames from 10-14 July 2011 (150 miles, 45 locks), arriving in London to attend a Not Forgotten Association Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on 15 July.  Marines stationed across the world will join in on bikes and ergos in support.Spectators at Henley Royal Regatta will get the chance to meet the Thames Challenge Marines in person as they visit the warm-up areas, boat-tent lawn and Regatta enclosure today from 11am.From the boathouseScott Morrissey, 57, father of Harvard rower, from London."My son Jack was in the Temple crew which just lost to Cal (University of California, Berkeley). They had a nice race yesterday against Yale and won. I've never rowed, but I think they all had a good experience here at Henley for first-year rowers."Dean Hill, 19, rower, from PhiladelphiaPrincess Elizabeth Challenge Cup - St Joseph's Prep School, USA"I used to be the stroke but I'm too old this year so I'm not racing.  The entire atmosphere is amazing at Henley. I was here last year and there's nothing like this race in the USA. The whole love for the sport is awesome. There’s a lot of distractions in the boat with people yelling and screaming from the bank and trying to get you all shook up."And Finally…Korea came to Henley today in the form of a TV contingent from MBC. The Republic of Korea, of course, is to host the 2013 World Rowing Championships, sponsored by Samsung. What better way to build up interest for the event and the sport of rowing than by using some reportage from Henley in their most popular TV show.  The actors, producers and cameramen in their 10-strong contingent certainly seemed to have some fun making the film.The press office at the Regatta can be contacted on: press@hrr.co.ukStaff on duty this year are: Press Assistants: Miranda Edwards, Pheobe Kimble-Wilde and Andy Sloan. Inside Lines writer:  Martin Cross. Press Officer:  Caroline Searlehttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=417Sat, 02 Jul 2011 08:15:28 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=416Daily briefing notes from the Press Office at Henley Royal RegattaToday at HenleyToday’s racing includes a full programme of semi-finals starting at 09.30 and finishing at 19.30. There will be 42 races featuring world and Olympic champions and medallists as well as leading crews from Universities, Colleges, Schools and Clubs across the 19 events.Yesterday at HenleyIt was a stunning day at Henley and the crews racing here took every opportunity to set a hatful of new records. The women of Princeton Training Center showed what has made them the reigning Olympic champions by smashing their 2006 finish time by a full six seconds in the Remenham Challenge Cup.University of California, Berkeley’s sensational freshman crew continued to impress breaking both barrier and Fawey records early on. But they were reminded that this event is far from over, when their rivals from Harvard, later set a new finish record of 6.12.The morning’s session also saw the Silver Goblets and Nickall’s Challenge Cup come alive, with Carboncini and Mornati of Italy nipping a second off Redgrave and Pinsent’s old Fawley time.Not to be outdone, Triggs-Hodge and Reed stormed to the Barrier at a rating of 41, breaking that record by two seconds.As the morning session progressed, it was hard to keep up with the records falling. The British double of Bateman and Wells had always looked set to break the Barrier record in their race in the Double Sculls Challenge Cup and it duly went. Their main opposition here, the reigning Olympic champions from Australia, didn’t break any records but still looked impressive.Later in the afternoon another British squad four wrote their names in the record book when they set new Barrier and finish records against a strong Australian lightweight crew in the Stewards’ Challenge Cup. The Australian’s top four here, who could face the British in Sunday’s final, were pushed all the way by the Swiss lightweights.Steering was a problem for both women’s quads in a heat of the Princess Grace Challenge Cup. The crews from the USA and China clashed just after the start. As the US steerswoman said, “my heart was in my mouth when we stopped because I thought one of us might get disqualified. But the umpire said we’d hit each other in neutral water and ordered a re-start”. The crew from the USA made no mistake the second time around.And there was a superb trademark sprint finish from the Aussie Dan Noonan, as he stroked his quadruple scull past the might of Poland’s Olympic champion crew – albeit without their usual stroke man Adam Karol – to win by 3/4 of a length in the Queen Mother Challenge Cup.But there were much closer finishes than that, which thrilled the crowd. Hampton School’s brave effort in the Princess Elizabeth was ended by St Andrews School of the USA, who rowed through the Surrey school to win by a canvas. And Agecroft and Durham’s quad took their heat from Sport Imperial and Reading by just two feet in the Prince of Wales. In the process, they equalled the finish record – it was that sort of day!Redgrave records brokenThere aren’t many records in rowing that the five times Olympic champion, Sir Steve Redgrave, hasn’t broken.  The records which held a special place in his heart were the  times the Henley Steward had set at the Royal Regatta. Up until yesterday he still held four records in both double sculls and pairs. By 1220 on Friday 1 July, 2011, he had lost three and all that remained was the finish time of 6:56, that he and Matthew Pinsent set in a heat of the Silver Goblets in 1995.Earlier in the day, Redgrave had looked at the fast conditions, thought about the quality of the entries in the Double Sculls Challenge Cup event and reflected: ‘My old double sculls record is bound to go today.’ He’d set the time to the Barrier of 1:58 with Adam Clift way back in 1982. In fact it was the longest standing record in the book.It was fitting that he heard the news his record had fallen to Wells and Bateman, the British double scull, from Jurgen Grobler his old coach. But Britain’s Chief Coach for Men also had some surprising news for his former protégé.“It was about time that record went”, explained Redgrave to Grobler. The 49 year old then confidently added: ‘I think it will be a bit longer before my Goblets records go though.’ Quick as a flash, Grobler shot back: “You’ve lost one of them already. The Italians just took your Barrier record by a second”.Lorenzo Carboncini and Niccolo Mornati have impressed here this week with their superb pace and fluency of movement. Afterwards, they said: “We weren’t trying to break the record but conditions were very good at the start”. Then a couple of hours later their likely opponents in Sunday’s finals, Peter Reed and Andrew Triggs-Hodge, made their own smash and grab raid on another of Redgrave’s records.“We’d done 2:01 to the barrier without trying yesterday”, said Pete Reed. The British pair kept the rating high at 41 strokes per minute this morning, in a deliberate  attempt to both break Redgrave and Pinsent’s record and send a signal to the Italians. They succeeded, breaking the time by two seconds. It now stands at 1:56. And to make it all the more sweet, their race – which they won comfortably - was umpired by none other than Sir Matthew Pinsent.Other records also tumbledRecords tumbled again at Henley yesterday and more could follow as two of the record-breaking American crews go head-to-head in the Temple.The University of California broke the records they set on Thursday to the Barrier (1:44) and Fawley (2:58) yesterday and today face the Harvard University freshman crew who broke the overall course record for the Temple Challenge Cup, yesterday finishing in 6mins 12 secs.George Gebhard from the Cal crew said: "We had a real nice tailwind. It was a good race. We knew Imperial were a really good crew so we wanted to go out strong. We are looking forward to racing Harvard."Jack Morrissey, captain of the Harvard eight in the Temple said that their race "went to plan" and that they "maybe had a bit more to give"Farewell to HolmesYesterday, in a magnificent roar, the enclosures took their chance to say their goodbye to Andy Holmes. The deafening sound greeted a Kingston Rowing Club crew, as they rowed down the course to celebrate their club’s win of the Prince Phillip Cup 30 years ago. Then Andy Holmes anchored that boat from the ‘3’ seat. But yesterday, Sir Steve Redgrave, who won two of his gold medals with Holmes, agreed to row with the Kingston crew to honour the memory of his former crewmate.It was a poignant day for the members of Holmes’ family that followed the row-past in the launch. And the intensity of the cheers drew tears in the launch, not least from Richard Ayling, Holmes’ old coach at Kingston. When they got off the water, Redgrave made a special presentation to Ayling in recognition of the many international crews that he’d coached and said: “I feel really honoured that Kingston asked me to sit in Andy’s old seat for this occasion”.This special occasion was marked by the presence of many former crew-mates of Holmes, both from Kingston and Leander Clubs, as well as the surviving members of the four that took Gold in the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. Afterwards, two of Holmes’ daughters, together with Pam, his first wife, and Gabrielle, his second wife, joined Redgrave for lunch to swap stories and hear about some of the sadly departed rower’s legendary exploits. Two 1995 record breakers to lock hornsThe crews of two Oxford Brookes’ old boys from their record breaking Temple crew of 1995 will face each other in the Thames Challenge Cup semi-finals today, in what promises to be a titanic struggle.But both Ben Lewis, the Molesey coach, and Alex Henshilwood, the Yarra coach, felt a little sadness today, when their old barrier Fawley and finish records were broken by the University of California, Berkeley, and Harvard Freshmen crews yesterday.“The standard of the Temple is just amazing this year”, said Lewis, who picked out the Cal freshmen as his crew of the Regatta so far. “They just keep on breaking records”, Lewis added.And the reaction of Henshilwood was pretty similar – with one exception – last year, he coached two of the Harvard eight that set a new finish record of 6.12 when they were part of his Henley-winning Eton School boat. “When Cal took our Barrier and Fawley records, I thought well at least we still hold the finish time. Then those old Etonians came down in a fantastic race against Yale and took it away”, said Henshilwood.Both Lewis and Henshilwood know that tomorrow’s semi-final will be incredibly fast. “The standard of the Thames is probably the highest it’s been for the last 10 years”, said Lewis. But in a gesture of solidarity, the Molesey coach said: “I’m going to see if Alex has got his old Brookes blazer over here, so we can at least go head to head in style”. Father and son actFather and son duo Neil, 49, and Stuart West of Walton R.C. made a last minute decision to race at the Regatta this year.  They must have felt like a non-league club playing at Old Trafford yesterday when they took on Britain’s world and Olympic medallists Andrew Triggs Hodge and Pete Reed in the Silver Goblets and Nickalls’ Challenge men’s pair quarter-finals.Their decision to compete was made as a tribute to the memory of Brian West (Neil's father and Stuart's grandfather) who sadly died a few days before the closing date for entries.Both are experienced rowers, but they only had 4 outings together in the pair and didn't really expect to qualify.Stuart is 21 and learnt to row at Walton as a J14, winning the Schools Head and National Schools, and also winning the GB-France match in the GB 8+.  He currently rows at Durham University.Neil will be 50 in a couple of months’ time and is the current Captain of Walton Rowing Club.  He first rowed at Henley 30 years ago with Cambridge University and still rows for them in the Veterans’ Boat Race.The crew also believe they are the lightest in the whole Regatta, averaging 10 stone 13lbs with Neil at 10 stone 18lbs. They are glad it wasn’t a head-wind race today.No home comforts for Polish debutant.The Polish quadruple scull featuring three of the reigning Olympic champions may have lost to Australia in the Queen Mother Challenge Cup - but it has given Henley debutant Piotr Licznerski a flavour of the event.Licznerski replaced Adam Korol, who is out with a back injury, in the Polish quad with Konrad Klasielewski, Marek Kolbowicz and Michal Jelinski, together competing as A.Z.S Szczecin and A.Z.S. Gorzow."I very enjoy being here, it is something new for me," he said before the race. "It is very important and something new that we are staying with families from Henley. Everybody has helped us very much."Despite the experience of four-times Henley winner Kolbowicz and three-times Henley winner Klasielewski, the Poles lost by three quarters of a length after leading the Australians at the Barrier and Fawley.From Greeks…..Twin brothers from Greece, Apostolos and Nikolaos Gkountoulas have been making the most of the Greek food in offer in Henley.The pair, who claimed bronze behind GB's Pete Reed and Andrew Triggs Hodge at the Munich world cup, and are racing at Henley in the Goblets and Nickalls' Challenge Cup, have already visited the nearest Greek tavern in the town, The Green Olive, as they continue to enjoy the switch from lightweight to openweight."The Green Olive is a very nice place with good food," said Nikolaos. "So we are very lucky. Until 2009 we were lightweight meaning we would have to average 70kg. It was difficult."Apostolos added, "the quality of what we eat is the same, it is the quantity that's changed. Before, the quantity makes us crazy!" ….to GaffesEven top international rowers make simple mistakes, and some are more embarrassing than others.Great Britain sculler Alan Campbell is no exception."I fell in the other day in training, just off the landing stage," admitted Campbell."The women's eight slow clapped me. It was hugely embarrassing. Hopefully it won't happen again any time soon."From the boathouseDominic Hessian, 49, oar repairer for Oar Sport, from Nottingham"The rowers are always asking to borrow my tools. I can't believe how little they bring. Rowers are pretty good at bringing stuff back thankfully, especially the foreign crews.I don't row anymore. I do a bit of triathlon and fly fishing - between cigars. I rowed here in 1987 with my three brothers, Rupert, Damian and Toby in the Wyfold with Heffalump B.C. We hit the booms right at the end and I got thrown in right in front of the grandstands"Tim Conrad, 60, coach to the Australian Rowing Team men's pair"We're busy training on Dorney Lake as they are not competing due to injury.""I've been to Henley before in 2004. It is a really good warm up when we get to Europe and it is a lot of fun for the athletes, even though it is quite different to the racing we are preparing for.""They were supposed to all have blazers but they weren't finished in time. Hopefully they will be here today."And Finally…Have you heard the one about the ex-Mayor of Henley who has two Chinese rowing guests staying in her house this week.  She doesn’t speak Chinese and they don’t speak any English. So they have set up two laptops and talk to each other by typing things into Google translator.  The modern world in which we live!The press office at the Regatta can be contacted on: press@hrr.co.ukStaff on duty this year are: Press Assistants: Miranda Edwards, Pheobe Kimble-Wilde and Andy Sloan. Inside Lines writer:  Martin Cross. Press Officer:  Caroline Searle http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=416Fri, 01 Jul 2011 07:18:54 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=415Daily briefing notes from the Press Office at Henley Royal RegattaToday at HenleyRacing starts at 08.30 with a full programme of quarter-finals. There are 64 races in store today finishing at 18.50.Temple crews steal big guns thunderOn the surface, yesterday was a day that should be remembered for the first appearance of some stellar international names. Andrew Triggs-Hodge and Pete Reed disposed of their opponents with some ease in the Silver Goblets and Nickalls’ Challenge Cup.Earlier, Matthew Pinsent had supposed that his Barrier record of 1:58 might be under threat from the new British pair. In fact, Hodge and Reed’s time to the barrier was 2:01 and their coach confirmed that record-breaking had not been on his crew’s radar.The British pair’s most threatening opponents from Greece and Italy both looked impressive defeating pairs from Molesey Boat Club in a commanding fashion. With the Italians looked particularly impressive off the start.Alan Campbell controlled his race in the Diamond Sculls in a similar fashion – the British sculler explained that he is coming back into form after a disappointing result in the Munich World Cup last month. But while those British crews will undoubtedly set pulses racing at the weekend, yesterday it was left to the Freshmen of California, Berkeley to leave the enclosures breathless. The crew disposed of a very strong Dutch crew, breaking the Barrier and Fawley records on the way. Even more spice was added to the event when just one hour later another Dutch student crew, this time from Amsterdam, equalled the new Barrier record.There was no doubt that the first half performance of the Upper Yarra Rowing Club eight in the Thames Challenge Cup was little short of sensational. The Alex Henshilwood trained crew swept their American opponents aside, setting a mark of 1:47 to the Barrier. In a tight race in the same event, the unselected Molesey crew impressed in their 3/4 of a length victory over London ‘A’.There were surprises too in the junior events, with Canford School’s eight, nearly toppling the might of Eton College in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup, going down by just half a length. On the other side of the draw, St Edwards’ School proved they are on the comeback trail with their victory over Kingston Grammar.But many of the cogniscenti will have been excited by sight of Australia’s top crews on the water at Henley for the first time. Unsurprisingly the experience of Henley had its own impact on the Australians, as the legendary Aussie Drew Ginn tweeted about his young crew’s practice: ‘Walked through a 1000m start practice and we went as straight as a die. Young guns loving the culture.’ Ginn’s crew open their account against the Swiss lightweights today.A record-breaking habitThe ghost of a smile crept across the mouth of Wyatt Allen when he heard that his Freshman crew had taken both Barrier and Fawley records on the way to defeating a strong Dutch eight. Not only was Cal Berkeley’s row in the Temple the day’s stand-out performance, it confirmed their status as one of the strong favourites to take the Temple Challenge Cup.Allen’s smile may have had something to do with the fact that he knows a thing or two about breaking record. In fact, he rowed in the ‘2’ seat of the US eight which set the world’s best time, while defeating their Canadian rivals in a heat at the Athens Olympics in 2004. Allen’s crew went on to become Olympic champions and the time his crew set then of 5:19.85 still stands today.“I remember that day as being really windy and rough”, recounted Allen, who went on to explain: ‘We hit the water a few times but finished in front. That’s what counted.’ It was enough for Allen’s then coach, the legendary Mike Teti, to ask his former crew member to help him coach at the University of California.“It’s been great working with Mike. He gives me enough space to do my thing. I have a very different coaching style to him”, said Allen.Andy HolmesToday, the greatest rower that the world has ever seen will paddle down the Henley Royal Regatta course in a Kingston Rowing Club four in a heartfelt tribute to the memory of the man who helped make him into the sporting legend he has become. Last November, Sir Steven Redgrave was a pall bearer at the funeral of Andy Holmes, the man who partnered him for two of his Olympic victories.Tragically, Holmes died from a waterborne disease aged just 51.  His premature death was not only a terrible blow to his family and friends but also to the world-wide rowing community. Amongst those men and women, the quietly spoken Holmes was known as British rowing’s tough man, someone who had a strong belief that British crews could compete with the very best and win gold medals.Holmes’ legacy, which he crafted with Redgrave, first in the coxed four in Los Angeles in 1984 and then four years later in the pair at the  Seoul Olympics has had a massive impact on British rowers since then – a fact acknowledged by Andrew Triggs Hodge and Katherine Grainger, when they recently visited Latymer Upper, Holmes’  old school.But Holmes was already making waves before he struck up his partnership with Redgrave. In 1981, he stunned the world as part of a Kingston Rowing four, which fearlessly led the formidable world champions from East Germany through the 1000m mark at the 1981 World Championships. Before that, they’d lifted the Prince Philip Cup at Henley.It was a 30th anniversary that Holmes would have relished. Now, his old crew have re-formed, with Redgrave, to mark the anniversary of their remarkable year and the passing of an amazing rower.View from the Press BoxHer Majesty's Press has once again walked on water as eager scribblers braved the elements to perch in the eyrie that shall be known as "The Box". Hovering above the river at the end of the course in line with the Berkshire station booms it is the perfect vantage point to swap gossip, belittle the desk editors, prepare for lunch and, er, watch some rowing.Today's mood has been lifted by closer races, the arrival of members of the GB rowing squad and the appearance of the Russian Justice Minister, Alexander Konovalov in the Visitors’ Challenge Cup.Mr Konovalov is a keen rower today representing The English Rowing Club, Russia  (Hon President Sir Steve Redgrave). The Club was revived in St Petersburg last year to commemorate the 150th anniversary of rowing being introduced to the city.Having visited Henley a year ago and having been a rower in his younger days, Mr Konovalov somehow found time in his busy government schedule to train hard and come back here to race – albeit on the losing end to Leander.“Leander made it easy for my crew”, said the clearly-delighted Minister after his experience on the famous course.  “They started off very quickly and were ahead by the end of the Island so we could just simply enjoy the experience of racing down the course. It was very unique”.Fast track to Henley successJust two years after picking up oars, three members of the University of London crew in the Temple Challenge Cup are billed as the fastest university crew in the country.The newcomer’s mettle has already overcome Newcastle University ‘A’ on Wednesday and Hobart College from the USA yesterday by one and three-quarter lengths in 6 min 36secs. Whether they have the pace to challenge the California and Nereus crews remains to be seen.But Irish coach Brian Young, an under-23 world medallist in 2000, praised his oarsmen’s rapid progress from complete beginners.“It’s such a great story, three of the guys rowing with us had never touched an oar two years ago,” he said.Paul Bennet, 22, and 21-year-olds Lawrence Dight and Rory Bufacchi have been fast learners in the London boat which has seen three other members trialling for the GB under 23 team – and features cox Max Gander an under 23 and World junior medallist.Together they have seen a resurgence in form of the club which was one of the top university teams in the 1990s.“We raced the Met in this crew and have had some good ding dongs in private matches with Molesey and Eton,” said Young. “We are looking forward to seeing what we can do at Henley.”“I wouldn’t say we are the fastest Uni crew in the country until we’ve actually beaten everybody and the strongest Uni crews are in the fours from Great Britain. These guys have all been to Henley before but only had one race. This boat got together about a week before Met and is going well.” After beating one American crew though he is not making any assumptions about others.Art on the River’s EdgeWhether you look at Tonia Williams rowing paintings in the Stewards Enclosure art gallery, or on-line at o4som.com , there’s little doubt you will be struck by the remarkable images of rowing the former British world lightweight champion has managed to create. They are full of bold, dramatic colours, energised by the movement of the boat as it cuts through the water, leaving dramatic waves and bubbles in its wake.Her most striking painting is of a double scull, in the midst of their victory celebrations. It is painted just after they have crossed the finish line and a golden hue radiates out across the water from a double painted from a palette of red, white and blue.“I have to admit that I had the very British nature of Henley Regatta on my mind when I created this image.’ said Williams, who went on to explain: “My art is very much about the impact the boat has on the water as a rower and the beauty of seeing rowing from above is that it gives the non-rower a slightly voyeuristic view of what’s going on in the boat”.Her other two paintings are of an eight and quadruple scull. The former is in green and red and is striking for the synergy of the bow wave, puddles and wake all merging into one. The latter is a powerful image of an orange quad cutting a dramatic swathe through a very blue coloured river.“The idea behind these is to show how flamboyant rowing can be”, said the New Zealand based Williams. It is an aim that she has certainly fulfilled.From the boathouseDavid Biddulph, 60, from near Portsmouth, former cox for Kingston B.C. and a member of the Stewards’ enclosure on boathouse duty“I raced in the Thames in 1975/76/77. We knocked five seconds off the record, but the Norwegians went and knocked seven seconds off and knocked us out.”The Christiana boat from Norway clocked 6 mins 25 secs but then lost in the semis to the eventual winners Harvard University.Which races are you excited about this year? “The Grand and the Queen Mother, the eights and the quads, both of those are going to be well worth watching.”Tom Mason, 19, rower, from Maidstone, racing in the Temple Challenge Cup for  Reading University“We raced on Wednesday but lost to Durham. We held them to halfway but then we suffered. All I was thinking about on the start line was ‘I’m going to go through a lot of pain in the next 6-7 minutes.Top tips for newcomers would be not to get intimidated by all the big names and just focus.”Cyril Barrett, 74, from BracknellMarshall working by the umpire’s boats“This is my sixth year and I’ve worked in various different positions but I like this one welcoming people onto the umpires’ boats. The rules are strict but they have to be. You could set your watch by the organisation here.In the past I’ve greeted Princes Anne and Kelly Holmes, what a wonderful smile she has.”And Finally…Has British Association of Rowing Journalists’ official Mike Haggerty turned lothario rather than his more habitual umpire and scribe roles? Certainly a recent stream of female visitors leaving their ‘cards’ in the press office for the dapper Scot has left his fellow scribblers somewhat amused and intrigued…..!The press office at the Regatta can be contacted on: press@hrr.co.ukStaff on duty this year are: Press Assistants: Miranda Edwards, Pheobe Kimble-Wilde and Andy Sloan. Inside Lines writer:  Martin Cross. Press Officer:  Caroline Searle http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=415Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:21:22 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=414Inside Lines: Thursday 30 June, 2011Daily briefing notes from the Press Office at Henley Royal RegattaToday at Henley - Big guns join the frayAfter a successful day of exciting club, school, college and University rowing yesterday some big international guns appear for the first time today. All eyes on the AussiesAustralians were the talk of the boathouses yesterday.  All eyes were on their nation’s biggest ever Henley contingent, including many top 2012 medal contenders with many crews and rowers wondering just how strong they will be.  “It’s worked out perfectly for us”, said Australian team manager Ray Ebert, “to be able to race here and then at Lucerne next weekend.  We’re really looking forward to it”.Heart-rending but back for moreIt was one of the most heart-rending stories of last year’s Regatta when London RC’s Wyfold Challenge Cup four, the overwhelming pre-race favourites, were battered in the final by a brutal headwind and lost what should have been a race-winning lead to Nottingham and Union Rowing Club.Three of that crew are back this year, rowing as LRC ‘A’ and you’d expect them to still be sore. But talk to Alex Cawthorne, one of the survivors of that race, and he insists that he, his crew and club have put that race well behind them.“It’s safe to say that the three of us who were in it last year have drawn a line under that race. It’s a different crew, we’re stronger and we’ve all had another year to develop”, explained Cawthorne. His crew certainly looked in great shape, beating Reading Rowing Club to open their account on Wednesday afternoon. And as Cawthorne said: ‘It was good start to the Regatta well.  We executed what we’d planned and we went down the course taking in the atmosphere and getting some confidence on day one”.That confidence has been built by changing their pattern of racing and training from 2010. ‘Last year, we entered senior races and won them all, so we weren’t put under pressure. This year, we’ve entered elite all season and been beaten but learnt how to handle the pressure”, he said.At the end of their race, the LRC crew, while leading comfortably sprinted in the last 20 strokes. To Cawthorne, that was a sign of how much more professional his crew have become.  “Last year we never had to sprint for the line. Now we want to make sure we do everything right”.The world was not Clarke’s oyster after Karapiro successFor most of the British team that raced at the 2010 Karapiro World Championships, this year’s Henley Royal Regatta represents a crucial staging post on the road to Olympic qualification. But for one man, who took silver in the British eight inNew Zealand, the Royal Regatta has a very different feel.When he returned from New Zealand, the world should have been James Clarke’s oyster. Instead, it was blown apart when he found his body couldn’t take the immensely tough training regime he was asking it to go through. “I’ve had over-training syndrome”, explained Clarke, who went on to say: ‘I was told that I had to take a complete rest to give my system time to recover.’That was tough for an athlete who is only 24, let alone one who has already won a world gold as a lightweight and competed in the Beijing Olympics to boot. And Clarke does not disguise that fact that it took him some months to accept the fact that he would not be part of the British team during the 2011 season.“When I finally accepted it, I realised that I could come back to rowing as a coach”, he explained.  He is coaching London Rowing Club’s “A” crew in the Thames Challenge Cup. “I wanted to support the club, who have been really good to me in the past. Already it’s taught me so much. From the bank you can really see how simple the rowing stroke is. It’s when you’re in the boat that you tend to over-complicate things”, he said after making a winning start here today against Reading R.C.He is also now at least able to look forward to the strong possibility that he will be back training in the national squad in time for the London Games. Now that would be a result!From Eton to MelbourneThough he’s been coaching Melbourne University for a year, most of the Henley crowd know Alex Henshilwood as the man who took Eton College’s superb eights to back to back Henley wins in 2009 & 2010.Now the former British world medallist is seen as the coach of one of Australia’s most feared crews at Henley - the Yarra R.C. eight that are looking to take home the Thames Challenge Cup.Melbourne University is an “open club” catering for both students of the University as well as non-students.  With the Henley Rules this “openness” means that genunine Melbourne students can row in the Temple or Prince Albert Cup Challenge Cups while their non-students have to compete as Upper Yarra R.C.“What I love about this Yarra crew is that they’re such feisty aggressive racers. And usually, my role is to keep them calm”, said Henshilwood, who admitted that a lot has happened to him in the last year: “I’ve had the chance to work with some of the world’s best rowers, like Drew Ginn, David Crawshay and Josh Dunkley Smith”, he said.“I guess it will take another year before somebody might say that this crew looks like a Henshilwood crew. But I’ve been working hard to make some significant changes at Melbourne University already. I’ve worked hard to get them to develop a different race profile and we do much less square blade rowing now, so the stroke has a longer, flatter profile”,  he said.Henshilwood is delighted  that the Yarra rowers are sharing the same boat bay as his former school: “I was out on the bike, with Molesey’s Ben Lewis, watching my crew win their first round and Eton’s Temple eight were in the very next race. As I cycled down the course, I could hear the commentary and I was absolutely delighted that they managed to hold on and beat their opponents.’The former Eton coach, saw his crew register a comfortable win over Staines BC in their first heat. He knows that he will face a much tougher challenge as the week progresses – possibly against Lewis’ crew on Saturday. It would be hard to find anybody prepared to bet against Henshilwood’s Henley record as a winning coach.American rivalry brewing in the TempleHarvard University’s eight in the Temple Challenge Cup came through their first test at Henley – and are on course to try and settle an American score on English water.The eight have had a great season with one blemish, defeat to the University of California, whom they could meet in the semi-final at Henley.Harvard’s coach, Bill Manning, was all but biting his nails after sending his crew out for their first-round race yesterday after a few changes to the boat.“This is not the same crew that raced in the USA as various guys had jobs and one had to do lab work for his degree,” he said. But he was pleased with the crew’s opening race.“There were first race jitters,” he said afterwards. “The guys were clearly nervous about performing on the big stage but once they relaxed they rowed well,” he said.Their opponents, the University of the West of England, from Bristol, pushed the Americans at the start but Harvard dropped the stroke rate and won by two and three-quarter lengths in 6: 39.Later on Wednesday morning the University of California despatched their first-round opponents, the University of Warwick, with ease by four and three-quarter lengths, finishing in 6:42.“The only crew they have lost to this year is the California crew which is in the Temple with them,” said Manning.“We had a good opponent in the first round. UWE were clearly matching us in speed for the early part of the race,” he said.Harvard University face Durham University ‘B’ today while the University of California take on the Dutch crew from the University of Groningen.Would you beat your boss?Charlie Jarvis joked with his boss, Richard Hosking, they would meet in the draw after both qualifying boats for the Wyfold Challenge Cup.Then their boats, London R.C. and Thames Tradesmen’s R.C. ‘B’ were the first two drawn out.  “Better clear your desk,” said Jarvis’s teammates after London R.C. edged an excellent race yesterday in which both boats were cautioned by the umpire for erratic steering.But Hosking, the director of Cognition Land and Water and uncle to GB’s world medal winning lightweight sculler Sophie Hosking, took the defeat in good spirit.“It was a good, hard race,” he said. “We thought beforehand it was going to be close. I’ve clearly been giving him too much time off to train.”Inspired by the GB men’s fourSchoolboy rowers at Henley were helped earlier this year with a visit from the GB heavyweight men’s four - who jumped in the school’s new eight to form an impromptu crew.Abingdon School beat Bedford Modern School in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup by three lengths in their opening race at the Regatta.And master of rowing Athol Hundermark revealed half his team had enjoyed a first-hand master-class at the turn of the year that had helped inspire them in training.Captain Will Davey, 17, was one of those in the boat. “It was incredible,” he said. “It was a great experience to see how they rowed.Davey has since pulled on a GB vest himself, rowing in the JM8+ for GB at the world cup in Munich and helped Abingdon win the Schools Head.Their only defeat has come at the hands of Eton in the National Schools, who they can only meet in the final of the Princess Elizabeth at Henley. From the boathouseMatthew Tatlock, 20, Rower, from Guildford, Prince of Wales Challenge Cup - Reading University“It’s my third time at Henley. I love it. There’s nothing like it.It’s daunting the first time. We went out in the first round in 2008, but won in 2009.”Top tip to fellow rowers?“Go out hard and stay hard. Don’t stop. It’s pretty simple.”Joe Shea, 45, boatman, from Cambridge Massachusetts with the Harvard University crews “I’ve been to Henley about nine times. The highlight is always the English beer. Half the crew are English so they know their way around."Robert Garman cheering the Shrewsbury School win in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup against Winchester College.“I first came to Henley in 1982. I’ve never rowed, my son Jim raced for Shrewsbury, Cambridge and Great Britain.Henley is indescribable. You have to come here to appreciate it, I was totally gobsmacked when I first came here and I still am."George Gebhard, 18, from Chicago, Temple Challenge Cup - University of California, Berkeley, USA bt University of Warwick on Wednesday“Henley is really cool, definitely the most unique atmosphere for a race.We’re living with a family here in Henley who opened their doors for us.It’s been really nice. I will be back as much as I can.”And Finally…Quote of the day came from a member of the catering staff:  “Phwoar, I’ve just seen that famous Mr Pinsent – sorry, I mean, Sir Matt.  He’s big and tall isn’t he!  Surely he’s too tall to fit into a rowing boat?”.The press office at the Regatta can be contacted on: press@hrr.co.ukStaff on duty this year are: Press Assistants: Miranda Edwards, Pheobe Kimble-Wilde and Andy Sloan. Press Officer:  Caroline Searle http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=414Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:29:17 +0100Newshttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=413Inside Lines: Wednesday 29 June, 2011Daily briefing notes from the Press Office at Henley Royal RegattaToday at Henley - A feast in storeWelcome to the 162nd Henley Royal Regatta.  We have world and Olympic champions amongst the 302 crews competing in 294 races over the next five days which look set to be a feast of rowing. Last chance to see world’s top crews on British waters before 2012The draw for the 2011 Henley Royal Regatta confirmed what many already knew. Whether or not you scored tickets for the Olympic rowing in 2012, there is just one chance to see the world’s top crews compete in Britain before the London Games – that comes during this week’s Henley Royal Regatta, where a host of current Olympic and World champions will go head to head against some of the world’s top ranked rowers in a bid to test their mettle for next year’s Games.Add to that mix some of the world’s most outstanding club, student and schoolboy rowers – some of them will be future Olympians – and you’ll understand why the 2011 Regatta draw has thrown up some outstanding contests. So the famous course over which the 1948 Olympic Regatta was contested – the last occasion that the Games were held in Britain – gets ready to welcome the crowds for 5 glorious days of racing.Some stunning contests aheadIf the draw’s selected crews reach the finals, there could be some stunning contests, chief of which will be the Grand Challenge Cup, where Germany, the current world eights’ champions, rowing as Hansa Dortmund, may well face the British crew that took silver, only feet behind them in last year’s World Championships. Both boats face tough struggles just to make Sundays finals: the Germans face the USA’s top crew on Saturday, while the Molesey and Leander crew, containing the veteran and Henley Steward Greg Searle, must first get past Australia’s top eight.The Aussie entry at Henley is sensational. No more so than in the Stewards’ Challenge cup, where a four containing their very best rowers are seeded in the other half of the draw to a boat which, if their training times are anything to go by, is Britain’s hottest new crew. The Australian combination contains rowing legend and double Olympic champion Drew Ginn. The former member of Australia’s famous Oarsome Foursome, teams up here with the sensational talent of Aussie newcomer, Josh Dunkley-Smith.But with the incomparable Tom James sitting in the Leander and Molesey four, the British have their own pool of talent to draw on. Both crews though must face world-class opposition from Belarus, the USA and Switzerland if they are to progress to the final. Sadly, though, the Australian Olympic champion, Duncan Free, who was to have been rowing with Ginn and Dunkley-Smith, broke his leg in a cycling accident before the Regatta and will have to watch this fascinating event unfold from the sidelines.However, another Aussie Olympian who struck gold in Beijing comes back off the sidelines at Henley. After a two-year break, Scott Brennan is re-united with his Beijing crewmate David Crawshay. If, as expected, they fight their way through to the Sunday, they could contest the Double Sculls final against Marcus Bateman and Matthew Wells, Britain’s top double scull who took a superb silver in last year’s world championships.And if you thought this Regatta was all about the Australians, look no further than the Queen Mother Cup, where the quadruple sculls event boasts a stellar array of talent. The surprisingly un-seeded Polish Olympic champions, will race Australia on Friday and then look set to face Croatia, the current world champions on Saturday. A potential clash with the British or American quads awaits these crews on Sunday.British billingIt’s unusual for Andrew Triggs-Hodge and Peter Reed, two of Britain’s Beijing Olympic champions, to have to settle for lower billing amongst the list of contests, especially as to win the Silver Goblets, they must beat two world bronze medallists from Greece. But the British pair will hope to maintain this season’s winning streak before they are expected to face their Kiwi rivals in the Lucerne regatta following Henley. The Diamond Sculls will provide a similar proving ground for Ulsterman Alan Campbell, who must fight his way past three Australian scullers for the coveted title.Britain’s women’s eight know that they must fight all the way down the course, too, as they face an outstanding crew from the USA in the Remenham Challenge Cup. The USA are the current world and Olympic champions, while the British posted a very strong showing in the recent Munich World Cup. In the Princess Royal, Mirka Knapkova from the Czech Republic must overcome Alexandra Tsiavou, Greece’s world champion lightweight sculler, to reach an expected final against Femke Decker, the powerful Dutch rower, who has turned her hand to sculling this year. And the withdrawal of Britain’s world champion quadruple scull may seem to have left the way clear for Australia to take the Princess Grace title – although the Americans will also want to have their say.Fierce club competitionsThe top club events are expected to provide the fiercest competition. In the Ladies’ Plate, the all-conquering Harvard eight from the USA look set to meet Britain’s fastest club eight from Leander in a mouth-watering Saturday clash, while the very slick German crew from Berliner and ORC Rostock could await the winner in Sunday’s final.In the Visitors Challenge Cup, look out for the Leander and Imperial College four, who will start their campaign on Thursday. This crew will believe they can win this event, despite the power of the Oxford Brookes and Molesey crew who look their probable Saturday opponents.Wednesday’s racing as always will be fast and furious. Spectators will get their first chance to see the form of the fancied Molesey eight coxed by Rowley Douglas, who steered the British eight to gold in the Sydney Olympics. Douglas, who hopes to cox Britain’s eight in the London Games, has been very impressed with the speed of his boat in training. But his crew are yet to race this season and therefore un-selected. They open their campaign against Royal Chester RC. But to progress to Sunday’s final they must get past the might of Upper Yarra RC. Alex Henshelwood (Henshilwood), the former coach of Eton College, Britain’s most outstanding schoolboy crew of recent years, coaches that Australian crew.  In the Temple, Britain’s fastest student eight from the University of London open their campaign on Thursday against Newcastle University, while Harvard’s fancied second crew line up against the University of the West of England. And schoolboy events provide the most open and hottest competition for some years. Eton and Abingdon, winners of the National Schools regatta and the Schools Head, open their campaigns on Wednesday against crews from St George’s College and Bedford Modern Schools respectively.The following day, the Fawley Challenge Cup for junior quadruple sculls begins. This has proved the Regatta’s most popular event, with an amazing 77 entries, reduced to 24 through last Friday’s tight qualification races.From Russia with IgorThe former coach of Russia, the USA and China, Igor Grinko, is back at Henley after nearly a decade away.The 65-year-old who led the USA to second in the rowing medal table at the 2004 Olympics and coached the Chinese to their first gold in Beijing is in England with crews from the Chinese province Shandong.Visa problems at the Chinese end has kept some of his star rowers from being here thus reducing the chances of his latest charges but Grinko is hopeful the experience of Henley Royal Regatta will add a fresh impetus to his new pupils.“They are a team of young guys, some of them have never been abroad,” said the Lithuanian.“There are some potentially very good guys but still very inexperienced.”This trip is about experience rather than podiums, he said after several of his rowers were unable to get visas as a result of recently changing provinces.Nevertheless he expects “three or four” of those on show for the Henley crowd to be back in London for 2012.“We had to change the men’s four as they lost their strongest guy at the last minute,” he said. “We had trouble with visas. Not because of GB.”He also lost two of the strongest women rowers from the province for the same reason.“But it is all about seeing the regatta and getting some excitement for the future,” he said. “It is very important”.The Shandong crews are racing in the Stewards’ Challenge Cup against the USA crew from Chula Vista TC, the Princess Grace Challenge Cup against Princeton T C ‘A’, as well as Liang and Fa in the Double Sculls Challenge Cup.Shandong is not the first Chinese province to feature at the Regatta. Two years ago Sichuan province fielded crews.From the boathouseDave Warner, 26, Rower, Cleveland OhioThames Challenge Cup – Four Score and Four Rowing Club“It’s great to be here at Henley, the English traditions make it so different from anywhere else in the world”What do you do to relax before a race?“We throw a football around-it gets us all focused and thinking as a team”Bill Barry, coach to Alan CampbellThe Diamond Challenge Sculls“We have competed three times at the Henley Regatta and have great hope that this year will be a third win for us. Keep a close eye on Campbell.”Having been here a few times, what’s your favourite thing about the regatta?“The best thing about Henley is that it never changes, we know exactly where we stand and traditions are kept!”Stesha Carle, 26, CaliforniaThe Remenham Challenge Cup – Princeton Training Centre“It is my first year at Henley Regatta but I am excited about racing using the dual race system!”Do you have any traditions you do before a race?“I always change my earrings before a race – changing something gives me a renewed vigour for the race.”John West, coach of GB men’s fourThe Stewards Challenge Cup – Leander Club and Molesey Boat Club“It’s a tough competition this year. The Australian and American teams are very strong but the British are not to be underestimated.”And Finally…Journalists eager for a bird’s eye view from the press box have been beaten to their positions by a coot - which has calmly created a nest at the foot of the stairs on the press box island.The press office at the Regatta can be contacted on: press@hrr.co.ukStaff on duty this year are: Press Assistants: Miranda Edwards, Pheobe Kimble-Wilde and Andy Sloan. Press Officer:  Caroline Searlehttp://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=413Thu, 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