Like Mother, Like Son: A Family Affair at Henley Royal Regatta
Rowing is a sport which runs within many families, flowing down through generations. Training through the year can absorb so much of a rower’s time and energy, so having a family that recognises and understands the intensity of the sport for those competing is integral and can strongly support the performance of an athlete. For many Juniors, hearing stories from parents about their experiences of racing is what plants the seed of curiosity to enter the sport. While some parents watch on from the river banks and see their children progress through the sport, others are inspired to take the jump and sign up to learn to row at their local club.
The Regatta this year has been especially special for one particular Mother and Son, Lizzy Saary and Felix Buttle, who both successfully qualified within their respective crews for The Wargrave Challenge Cup (Club Women's Eights) and The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup (Junior Men's Eights).
For both clubs, these crews had made history, with Lizzy’s club, London, achieving a record three qualification spaces in Women’s Eights crews in The Wargrave Challenge Cup. Felix’s crew are the first Junior Men’s eight from Tideway Scullers to qualify for the Regatta. For Felix, qualifying for this year's Regatta ‘showed how much we stepped on throughout the year, progressively getting faster’, having narrowly missed out on qualification at last year's Henley Royal Regatta.
Both Lizzy and Felix raced on Tuesday afternoon, coincidentally in consecutive races. Unfortunately for the duo, they faced strong opposition, and despite brave performances in both boats, prevented further progression.
Speaking to Felix and Lizzy shortly after their races, it was clear that, while not being the results they had wanted, they were happy with their performances. Lizzy made clear that despite the result ‘it was one of our best races and while sad it didn't go our way, we are super proud of what we have achieved to be here’. Felix also shared that he had followed his mother’s advice for tackling the Henley course, guided to ‘give it everything; all you can do on this course is throw everything at it and hope for the best’. It was clear from speaking to both Lizzy and Felix that they had relished the opportunity to compete on the same stretch of water and play a part in writing their crews into club history.
The pair also opened up about how rowing has strengthened their relationship. ‘It has really bonded us’, Lizzy revealed as they narrated the numerous early mornings they share week in week out, passing each other on the stairs on the way to training at their respective clubs. ‘Sometimes we go out sculling together too and I just love that we’ve got that thing to share’. It was Lizzy who was the first to be drawn to rowing, having long had it on her bucket list. Aged 40, Lizzy finally gave it a go and quickly fell in love with the sport. As for the rest of the family, the rowing bug continues to spread through the household. While Felix’s older brother no longer rows, he has two younger brothers developing towards promising Junior rowing careers. Indeed Felix’s younger brother Dylan is currently also rowing with Tideway Scullers as a J15, with aspirations of racing at Henley Royal Regatta in the coming years.
For Felix, this is his last year as a Junior but he is keen to continue in the sport. Rowing has this unique way of pulling individuals - and families - back to the water.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Henley Royal Regatta Press Team – press@hrr.co.uk
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