© Al Craigie
All Day Racing Highlights
Catch the latest and greatest highlights of Tuesday’s racing below
The Morning Session
PE | The King’s School Parramatta | © hrrphoto.co.uk
Conditions: Sunshine with strong gusting headwinds
University of Bristol and Durham University ‘A’ in the The Temple Challenge Cup (Student Men's Eight) had the honour of the first Tuesday start of the new six-day Henley Royal Regatta, with Durham leading early and pulling away steadily.
The King’s School Parramatta lay a marker
There was not long to wait to see one of the much-fancied overseas entries in race 7 at 10.05. In The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup, all eyes were on The King’s School Parramatta, who won the event in 2001 and have arrived billed fastest schoolboy eight in Australia. They laid down an impressive marker, immediately pulling away from Abingdon School and were two and a half lengths clear at Barrier (just after the quarter-mile on the 2,112-metre course) in 2:00 and went on to win easily. A decade ago and that would have had the Grandstand on their feet - Abingdon won the PE three times in row from 2011-13 - but are not near those levels and they have had a very mixed season.
Half an hour later, St Paul’s School, the champions in 2018, gave that context with 1:58 and a three and half length lead at Barrier against The Windsor Boys’ School. Although comparisons in such quickly changing conditions are invidious.
You can never discount St Paul’s in the PE, though they have not been able to scale the heights of their 2018 record-breaking eight. If it is not to be this year there are green shoots, the biggest one being the 15-year-old, 6ft 7in Alp Karadogan broke the Under-14 2 km erg world record in February (prior to his 15th birthday) pulling 6:13.3.
Later in the morning, the young King’s School Parramatta quad in The Fawley Challenge Cup (Junior Men's Quad Sculls) found things considerably harder against Marlow Rowing Club. That was not such a surprise as they were here as back up for the eight. Also, the last time the Australian crews rowed competitively was in the Australian National Championships in March, so as well as travelling round the world, they are having to peak for a second time.
Brookes ‘B’ show strength in depth
Toward the interval (race 25), Oxford Brookes University ‘B’ showed the strength of the Brookes programme - they have three eights in the Temple - by overhauling Exeter University, who led at Barrier (2:00), to win in calm and controlled fashion by nearly two lengths.
Hinksey Sculling School had an impressive win over The King’s School, Worcester in the Fawley. Hinksey were one of the stories of the Regatta last year and are now regularly beating more established names.
At the end of the morning session, Hampton School had to work hard to send Brooks School, USA home, which earned Hampton a head-to-head with The King’s School Parramatta in the next round.
The morning went to form and Selection. The coxless events found the conditions tough in the conditions and there was some steering and veering and a few booms were clipped early on without apparently causing any upsets. But given how tricky the conditions were and the first day racing with crowds so close it was an impressive show from the crews.
The Afternoon Session
Conditions: SunNY AND BLUSTERY
Fawley drama
Race of the day so far - race 51 in the The Fawley Challenge Cup (Junior Men's Quadruple Sculls) as George Watson’s College shocked York City Rowing Club by overhauling them in the last third. They were half a length behind at Barrier and slowly climbed back before breaking York and winning by over a length.
Drama of the session came in the Fawley too, in race 40, where the Stroke in the Westminster School caught a bit more than a crab - a crocodile? - as he broke his oar and lost his blade when a quarter of a length down to Hereford Cathedral School.
The tale of the Temple
The afternoon provided a first glimpse intosight of some of the biggest guns in the Temple (Student Men's Eight). Oxford Brookes University ‘A’ looked like the fastest boat of the day so far (and were 1:52 Barrier - rapid in this wind) in racing away from Durham University ‘B’. Brookes ‘B’ boat was impressive earlier and to have three boats in the field of this quality shows serious intent.
At the end of the session, University of London ‘A’, Brookes’ most serious domestic challengers this season.
In between, the USA crews laid down markers too. Yale University ‘A’, USA looked good half an hour later beating Santa Clara University, USA, as did University of Washington, USA, who had too much power for Cambridge University.
Boom clipping
The first race of The Prince of Wales Challenge Cup (Men's Quadruple Sculls), race 42, was a corker even before University of Surrey survived clipping the boom, after a huge gust of wind, and went on to win by length over Upper Thames Rowing Club.
Eton show speed
In the PE (Men’s Junior Eight) Eton College, the holders, strong favourites and winners of four of the past seven editions had clearwater even before the 500m over Groton School, USA and led by the two lengths at Barrier with the fastest PE time of the day - 1:57.
Earlier, Enniskillen Royal Boat Club earned the right to face Eton in the next round by beating The 1863 Club (The London Oratory old boys).
Fawley | George Watson's College | © hrrphoto.co.uk
Temple | Oxford Brookes University | © hrrphoto.co.uk
Temple | Yale University 'A' | © hrrphoto.co.uk
The Evening Session
Conditions: Sunshine and the wind dropped as the session went on
Brookes mortal
Proof that Oxford Brookes University are mortal this year in the Temple (Student Men’s Eight) came in the second race (57) after the tea interval as the ‘C’ boat were well beaten by a fast Drexel University, USA, who were 1 ¾ lengths up at Barrier and then held.
Utrechtsche Studenten Roeivereeniging Triton, proved that mortality on Friday last year, knocking out Brookes ‘A’ in one of the great Henley comebacks. They underlined their status as the leading Netherlands boat and one of the favourites as they beat Bucknell University, USA, pulling out a two length lead by Barrier (1:54).
Warrington win
Warrington Rowing Club, including two athletes who have been supported by the HRR Charitable Trust, had a fine win in race 71, pulling out a lead from the start over Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School in the Diamond Jubilee (Junior Women's Quadruple Sculls). They were two lengths up by Barrier and four and half by the finish.
The classic sundowner
Nottingham University and Club Nautique Chambéry le Bourget du Lac saved one of the best ‘til last, producing a classic in the Prince of Wales (Men's Quadruple Sculls) to close the first day. Chambéry pulled out a ¾ length lead by Barrier, but Nottingham held and pulled back to 3ft by the ¾-mile and gradually passed the French team to lead by the Grandstand and win by ¾ length.
