T’was the night before Henley Royal Regatta. All over God’s green and pleasant land, rowers lay in bed, trembling with excitement and trepidation at racing to come. Stewards, badges akimbo and blazers fresh from the press, hurried to gild the final trimmings of an event on the precipice. Spectators examined their hemlines and rehearsed their social niceties in preparation for a day – or perhaps a week – of airs and graces. Champagne arrived by the bucketload and delicacies imported from far-flung corners of the world began to arrive on tables and in boat tents.
It’s a picture that thousands admire every year. Here at JRN, we’re on-site and ready to embrace six days of competition that will surely provide narratives untold and champions anew. Sat in the press office, the afternoon sun hanging low in the Henley sky, I thought I would take a cursory glance over Tuesday’s racing and pick out the key contests to come.
Here goes…
Race 5, 9:20am – Deerfield Academy vs Latymer Upper School (Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup)
Things get tasty real quick in the PE this year. Latymer – ‘A’ finalists at the 2023 National Schools’ Regatta – face up against Deerfield, a coxed-four program who have switched into the eight to come and do battle on the Henley straights. Fresh from their own ‘A’ final at the USRowing Youth National Championships, Deerfield will be in no mood for an early flight home.
Race 11, 10am – Triton & Dudok van Heel, Netherlands vs K.S.R. Njord, Netherlands (Prince of Wales Challenge Cup)
An all-Dutch affair as lightweights face up against heavyweights in what is a tantalising 2023 edition of the PoW. You would expect the boat from Njord to take the win here but Henley waters have been known to platform lightweights before…
Race 18, 10:40am – University of London ‘A’ vs Syracuse University (Temple Challenge Cup)
UL have stacked their eight with top athletes whilst Syracuse have brought a good contingent for Henley Royal Regatta. I expect UL to triumph but seeing on the Orange on the course is always a sight to behold.
Race 22, 11:05am – Bedford School vs St Paul’s School (Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup)
Neither crew will have wanted to draw each other in the first round. St Paul’s arrive at Henley as silver medalists from the National Schools’ Regatta and one of the domestic frontrunners. Bedford have had a stellar season and, with a kinder draw, would have hoped to progress through a round or two.
Race 51, 3:30pm – Radley College vs St Joseph’s Preparatory School, USA (Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup)
Bit of a pattern emerging here. The PE really is the premier racing available on the Tuesday of Regatta this year and this is arguably the pick of the bunch. St Joe’s, winners of the Stotesbury Cup, lay siege to Radley, who were beaten finalists in 2022. Another really compelling match-up on day one.
Race 63, 5:40pm – A.S.R Nereus ‘B’, Netherlands vs University of Washington, USA (Temple Challenge Cup)
I don’t expect this to be the closest race of the day but Holland vs America always makes for brilliant competition. Two proud rowing nations going head-to-head on the straights of Henley should be a great way to kickstart the evening session.
Race 64, 5:45pm – Eton College vs Greenwich Crew, USA (Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup)
This could easily be a final. Greenwich were winners of the ‘B’ final of Youth Eights at their respective nationals whilst Eton had to settle for a bronze on home waters back at the end of May. Two class crews meeting each other on a Tuesday evening represents a real treat for the massed spectators filing out of afternoon tea.
Race 71, 6:30pm – Hollandia Roeiclub, Netherlands vs Reading University (Prince of Wales Challenge Cup)
The Dutch U23s meet last year’s finalists. Reading are the country’s only specialist student sculling centres but the Dutch may be a bridge too far for this venture. Reading have created a conveyor belt of home-grown talent over the past few years and that will surely continue regardless of tomorrow’s result.
Race 76, 7pm – Shiplake College vs Leander Club ‘B’ (Fawley Challenge Cup)
Slightly strange shout but hear me out. Leander ‘B’ should win this comfortably but Shiplake only jumped in the quad in the past few weeks after these four athletes won bronze in the Second Eights category at the National Schools’ Regatta.
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