The Morning Session
conditions: Overcast, Increasing Head Wind
Conditions: Overcast, Increasing Head Wind
A Purple Patch
The coxed four is one of the slower boats. Into a headwind, the long race time allows for a lot to change down the course and the different tactics from the crews to really shine through. Bristol clearly wanted to attack the start of this Prince Albert Challenge Cup semi final, burning their matches early to enable a ¾ length lead by the Barrier. University of London trusted in their base pace and started to claw back the lead foot by foot. Past Remenham, both crews were locked side by side, although the momentum had clearly shifted to favour the UL crew who slowly moved into the lead. Bristol had no response left in the locker entering the final sprint, having put so much effort into the start.
Lights Take Flight
Today’s conditions, on paper, favour a heavier crew. With heavyweight Nereus ‘A’ on the slightly more sheltered Berkshire station, it looked like the cards were all falling in favour of the Dutch in this semi final of The Temple Challenge Cup. The crew from Harvard, however, have had a remarkably quick season and were ready to take on the challenge. The Dutch leapt out in the lead as the wind battered the crews exiting from the shelter of The Island. Coming through Fawley, Havard showed their class and started walking, whilst Nereus looked laboured. As Nereus closed the Harvard crew back down to just a ⅔ length lead, the Americans looked in clear control across the line.
All-Whack Booms
For athletes racing at Henley Royal Regatta, there is one unique feature to the course that strikes fear in all. The booms that line the course are cruel unmoving obstacles that can scuttle any crew's race in an instant. In this semi final of The Stonor Challenge Trophy, the Dutch double of De Jong & Boonstra had taken a clear advantage over the pair of Glen & Glover from Waiariki Rowing Club, New Zealand. The Kiwi-based pair were valiantly fighting to draw the Dutch back in, however, after flirting close to the booms for a few hundred meters, disaster struck. As the blades clipped the wooden pilings, the boat was sucked towards them, bringing their push to a halt.
A Cam-Bridge Too Far
The Grand Challenge Cup started in style with one of the closest races of the Regatta so far. Since winning The Boat Race, the Light Blues of Cambridge have been clear in their intent; they felt ready to face the challenge of Henley Royal Regatta’s blue riband event. Rob Baker’s boys knew they would face elite-level opposition and looked confident despite lining up against the national team eight from the Netherlands. The Dutch crew showed their international pedigree off the start but Cambridge, in their distinctly smooth rhythm, clung on. Passing Fawley, the Dutch pulled away to a ¾ length lead but Cambridge struck back, closing to ⅓ of a length. The Dutch kicked into their sprint and looked to have done enough, regaining their ¾ length lead. Cheered on by the sea of spectators crowding the banks of Stewards’ Enclosure, however, the Light Blues deployed an almost miraculous final gear to begin tearing into the Orange margin. Despite this monumental effort, Cambridge ran out of water and finished just ⅓ of a length behind the Dutch.
The Afternoon Session
Conditions: Overcast, Drizzle, Steady Headwind
The Bridge Challenge Plate provided yet another spectacular semi final contest between Leander Club and University of London and Thames Rowing Club. With Thames leading by ¾ length by the Barrier, their opponents had work to do, both crews absorbing each other's blows. As the commentators exclaimed, the lonely middle section of the course provided a ‘cauldron of power and pressure’ for both crews, with the Leander and UL boat narrowing the gap at the Mile. In the end, it was Thames who had what it took to plough through stirring waters, and with their lungs on fire, heard the finish beep ⅔ of a length ahead of the Leander composite.
Aussies Go Boating
All eyes were on the course for this semi final of The Grand Challenge Cup. The Great Britain men’s eight and current European Champions faced the Australian national eight, fresh off a third place at World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne, and strengthened by members from the gold medal-winning coxless four. Despite the deteriorating conditions, both crews showed their immense raw power, reaching the barrier in a time of 1m 43s. The Aussies made the better start, however, the British eight on home waters continued to bear down with determination. The Aussies continued to hold the British at bay across the finish despite roaring crowds through the Enclosures willing the home crew on.
Finn-ish In Style
A race of two halves saw a shocking end in the semi final of The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup, with Zeidler of Germany, 2024 Paris Olympic Champion, facing Hamill of New Zealand. Bolting out at high rate, Zeidler possessed a sizable lead of 2 ½ boat lengths at the Barrier, but as the race progressed, tides turned for Zeidler, who looked as though his tank was empty with a long way to go until the finish line. In an almost unbelievable frenzy, Hamill went guts for glory, passing Zeidler at the Mile marker to win the race with a standing ovation from dazzled spectators.
The Final Foot
This race may have occurred over the course distance of 2,112m but in the end came down to the very last stroke. Newcastle University ‘A’ – beaten finalists in 2024 – had the early lead off the start of this semi final of The Island Challenge Cup. Oxford Brookes ‘A’ remained focused on their own race plan and, heading through Remenham, made their move to overturn Newcastle's lead, placing their bows in the lead. The only question was how costly had this move been and what did they have left for the final sprint? As the two crews hurtled towards the finish, the noise from the banks became deafening. Newcastle were sprinting but Brookes responded. Two strokes to decide the winner. Ultimately, by a margin that can be measured in inches, Newcastle ‘A’ secured their spot in the Sunday’s Final.
The Evening Session
Conditions: Brightening Skies, Steady Headwind
A Little Molesey Magic
With the evening sun glowing on both these crews, they produced a display of exemplary women's rowing. Molesey ‘A’ inched into a slight lead of a ⅓ length at the Barrier; however, the Thames Rowing Club programme has built a system which creates incredibly resilient crews. Thames ‘A’ attacked and then attacked again and again, but each time, Molesey just found a reply. Molesey ‘A’ led across the line, a ½ length ahead of a Thames ‘A’ crew still fighting to the very end.
Brookes Break Back
Steering the start at Henley Royal Regatta is challenging even for coxes, let alone for those rowers in uncoxed boats responsible for steering with one of their feet. The Island can provide a false reference point, misdirecting the steers person across the course. Here at the start of this semi final of The Visitors’ Challenge Cup with full focus on getting out of the start blocks as fast as possible, the Brookes four drifted out into the middle of the course, threatening to clash with the composite four from Molesey & Holstebro Roklub. Having to violently apply the rudder to avoid the clash allowed the composite to slip away to a ½ length lead. Brookes, however, found a straight course and, through Remenham, asserted control on the race. After the contest had ended, the hearts of the Brookes crew skipped a beat as the Red Flag was raised. After discussion by the officials, it was decided that the steering at the start had not had an impact on the result of the race.
Rosso Corsa
For almost the entire regatta course, Hampton School and Radley School remained level; both crews were at their absolute redline, holding nothing back. In the end, one of the boats had to break. The final for The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup was just 200 meters away. Then it happened. Hampton was suddenly a canvas behind, then ½ a length. Radley was through and into the final despite the courageous effort from the Hampton boys.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Henley Royal Regatta Press Team – press@hrr.co.uk
You can stay up to date with Henley Royal Regatta including race results, schedules and event information on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X and Facebook.
