All the things you need to know about the racing today at Henley Royal Regatta with Sarah Winckless, Race Umpire, Steward and Olympic medallist.
OVERVIEW
It’s our second ever Tuesday start, double the women’s entry this year and we open with the schoolgirl’s event, The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup (Junior Women's Quad Sculls).
Clearly, at the start of the Regatta we’re working on form over 2,000m in six-lane racing or in the Henley Women’s Regatta over 1,500m (Henley is raced head-to-head over the 2,112m Course).
Weather: We’ve got fantastic conditions today. The flag on the church at the moment has dropped, we are expecting a light wind of 6-10mph later on, which might be a headwind. If it’s a crosshead (wind) that will be interesting, as it will be the first time some of these athletes go side-by-side on the Course. They are lined up in the shadow of the Island and a crosshead will be a test of their steering.
RACES TO WATCH
2 9.05 P. Wales 418 Strathclyde Park R.C & Leander Club vs 408 Leander Club
The GB development boat against the composite Stratchclyde & Leander Club boat in the Prince of Wales (Intermediate Men's Quad Sculls). I’ve just been to Leander and I heard them chatting about this being a massive event for them, at 9.05am on the Tuesday.
5 9.20 Temple 90 A.S.R. Nereus 'A', NED vs 108 Edinburgh University 'A'
It will be really interesting to see how Nereus and Edinburgh go against each other in this Student Men's Eight event.
11 10.00 P. Wales 427 Triton & Dudok van Heel, NED vs 407 K.S.R. Njord, NED
Back to the Prince of Wales, where the Dutch have drawn the Dutch.
15 10.20 Jubilee 533 St. Edward's School 'B' vs 532 St. Edward's School 'A'
An all Teddies race in the Junior Women's Quad Sculls - Teddies ‘B’ have drawn Teddies ‘A’
16 10.30 PE 225 Green Lake, USA vs 246 Shiplake College
The PE (Junior Men's Eight) is one of the most traditional events in the Regatta and this year the rules have changed. That has allowed for clubs to come into the event not just schools. And the first time that shows up in the timetable is Green Lake against Shiplake. Green Lake is a community rowing club founded in 1948, and I think they couldn’t have entered this event before the rule change this year.
33 12.10 P. Wales 417 Star and Arrow Club vs 409 London R.C.
Lots of exciting racing today, but I’m really excited about the Prince of Wales. In the past few years we haven’t seen it so hotly contested. Olympian Jack Beaumont with his other 2013 Henley winners competing in Race 33 against London Rowing Club, a strong boat. We’ve seen Jack and that boat competing in some Regattas earlier in the season and Jack’s also been competing in the Single Sculls - but he would be the first to say he’s not in the shape he was when he won his Tokyo silver, however he’s really enjoying having the gang back together.
37 2.05 Temple 160 University of Bristol 'A' vs 161 University of Bristol 'B'
After lunch, and I think my face did not manage to hold when I saw Bristol ‘A’ drew Bristol ‘B’.
64 5.45 PE 223 Eton College vs 226 Greenwich Crew, USA
After Tea, it will be great to see how Eton College go against Greenwich.
66 6.00 Wyfold 354 Neusser Ruderverein, GER vs 349 Los Gatos R.C., USA
Lastly, the Wyfold (Club Men's Coxless Four). This really shows the international part of the event with the Germans from Neusser against a USA crew from Los Gatos.
