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 very strange to be sitting here on a Tuesday. First ever six-day Regatta, that means the programme looks a little bit different. Sir Steve (Redgrave) and his team have done a great job to give us about 80 races a day, which gives us that hour later start.
Events today:
Open
The Prince of Wales is our most elite event - 8 races
Men’s club events
The Wyfold and The Brit, the men’s club events - both 16 races
The Wyfold it’s the 175th anniversary, that event started in 1847, so that will be pretty special for the winners of that campaign when we get to Sunday.
Student events
Temple - huge entry as ever in that event and overseas entries as well so we’re looking forward to seeing some of the crews that we’ve not yet either in the Qualifying Races or in regattas.
Schoolboy events
Princess Elizabeth - 16 races
Fawley - 8 races, so only 16 of the athletes racing, there are 24 in that event.
Diamond Jubilee - 8 races - mirroring the Fawley, only 16 of the 24 crews racing.
RACES TO WATCH
5 9.50 Jubilee 504 Northwich R.C. vs 532 York City R.C.
Both crews have got some young talented athletes and it will great to see them coming down the Course.
7 10.05 PE 267 King's School Parramatta, AUS vs 232 Abingdon School
It will be a first look at the King’s School Parramatta; school in Sydney, we think they’re pretty fast. They drew Abingdon School, who have had a mixed season.
12 10.35 Temple 139 Imperial College London vs 153 Nottingham University
IC vs Nottingham, will be good to see how they do against each other.
16 11.00 Britannia 551 Thames R.C. vs 546 Molesey B.C.
Very familiar names in this event - coxed fours.
Luncheon Interval
32 2.05 PE 242 Enniskillen Royal B.C. vs 264 The 1863 Club
I picked this one partly because 1863 is an unusual name to be saying in this programme, it’s usually The Oratory’s alumni, however at the moment the Oratory’s programme is being run outside the school slightly and so it’s running under the 1863 banner. And Enniskillen, fantastic rowing club, huge history at the event and they won’t have come over here unless they’re fast, I would imagine.
37 2.35 Temple 187 Yale University 'A', USA vs 166 Santa Clara University, USA
First US crews, they’ve come all the way over to Henley Royal Regatta and they’re going to meet in the first round.
43 3.10 Fawley 440 Marlow R.C. 'A' vs 428 Henley R.C.
They train and compete within a few miles of each other on this river and of course they’re meeting in the first round!
And then I’ve picked some firsts:
46 3.30 Jubilee 486 George Heriot's School vs 524 The Tideway Scullers' School
The first time that George Heriot’s has ever competed in the main event here. So, fantastic to see that. It will be great to see those young athletes take that mantle of being the first athletes from their school to compete on a Tuesday and in the main event.
54 4.15 PE 274 Woodrow Wilson H.S., USA vs 255 Reading Blue Coat School
It’s the first time that Woodrow Wilson has ever made the main draw and it’s the old school of Aquil Abdullah who’s our new Steward. He was very excited to see them here.
71 7.00 Jubilee 527 Warrington R.C. vs 516 Sir William Borlase's G.S.
Two of the athletes in Warrington Rowing Club have been supported by the HRR Charitable Trust. They’ve come into rowing through our funded programme with Warrington, and are coached by Richard Sinnott. Those girls came out of school, they learned to row in the afternoon in big boats and they have gone to Warrington Rowing Club and now they’re here at our event, which is really exciting.
