If this weekend were a marker on the course, respective of the timeline concerning the rowing community’s most-treasured event, we’d probably be under starters orders. The flag might even be in the air, rippling in a breeze that carries down the course, past the tents, vendors, throngs of people and on into a seemingly never-ending summer afternoon.
The draw signifies under 72 hours until go time and the final mechanics of next week’s racing are now in place. Tuesday’s 9am fall-of-the-flag will bring with it the euphoria and sense of celebration that Henley Royal Regatta ushers in to kickstart the summer. Today’s ceremony maps out who could theoretically be doing battle at what points through the week but threw up a few surprises alongside an illumination of who the Stewards’ believe to be the fastest boats at this year’s Regatta.
Below are some of my thoughts and reflections…
Open Events
Nothing too surprising here. The Grand and the Stewards’ Challenge Cups are relative formalities, at least in the opening exchanges. The decision to select Marlow and Leander in the Remenham Challenge Cup – and even give them a seed to the Saturday – is probably a little surprising in light of the fact that both Princeton and Texas have brought crews close to their Varsity best. The Queen Mother will keep Poland, current world champions, and home favourites from Great Britain apart until the Sunday, provided both can dispatch opposition from Canada and Austria respectively. The Town Challenge Cup sees Varsity crews from Stanford and Syracuse gain a seed alongside the winners of Championship Coxless Fours at Henley Women’s Regatta (Leander) and the British national four. Nothing too shocking in the smaller boats either. The potential Saturday showdown between Wynne-Griffith and George (the British men’s pair) and Yale’s Harry Geffen and Miles Beeson in the Silver Goblets and Nickalls’ Challenge Cup could be a fun one to watch. Curious that neither Perry/Standing – who are active GB trialists – or Lindberg + Witt – who won Henley Women’s Regatta – got a bye to the second round of the Hambleden Pairs Challenge Cup. Ziedler and Plominski are kept apart in the Diamond Challenge Sculls whilst Cara Grzeskowiak will look to take down Matilda Hodgkins Bryne in the Princess Royal Challenge Cup.
Intermediate Events
No straightforward races in the Ladies Challenge Plate, but the easier side of the draw is certainly with Leander Club + Hollandia Roeiclub. They’ve got Brookes ‘B’ and Brookes ‘C’ respectively before a theoretical Saturday showdown. Over on the other side of the draw, I can imagine neither Brookes ‘A’ nor Oxford & Leander – the GB U23 #1 crew – will be thrilled with having to race Leander & Oxford – the GB U23 #2 crew – or a very fast boat from Holland. In the Visitors Challenge Cup, there is quality everywhere you look but my eyes are drawn to selected Melbourne vs Harvard at the top of the draw – that looks to be the stand-out contest on day one of this event. In the Prince of Wales Challenge Cup, which has attracted some stellar entrants in 2023, the Dutch duel in seats one and two should be compelling (I would expect Njord to take the win here) whilst Reading University’s top crew will feel a little peeved to be matching up against the Dutch U23s on day one.
Club Events
Thames and Sydney on the same side of the draw in the Thames Challenge Cup automatically makes that the stronger half of a 32-boat roster. If all goes as expected, the two will meet on Saturday in what is probably the final a day early. Thames get two seeds in the Wargrave Challenge Cup, which is testament to the strength of their program. The Norwegians from Christiania Roklub also get a seed and very little is known about their relative strength. The Wyfold Challenge Cup always provides pretty exciting racing and the contests between selected Royal Chester and Crefelder of Germany alongside the other German boat from Neusser Ruderverein meeting US youth silver medalists from Los Gatos should be ones to watch out for. Marlow, who have had a good season, will be a little miffed to be drawn against selected Thames in the first round of the Britannia Challenge Cup.
Student Events
Let’s get it out of the way – Brookes and Washington on the same side of the draw robs us of the chance to watch these two do battle again on a Henley Sunday in the Temple Challenge Cup. In fact, that half of the draw is far punchier across the board with Durham and Harvard also present and accounted for. In the Island Challenge Cup, the prospect of a Brookes – Texas tussle in the quarter-finals promises much whilst Stanford will be confident in their chances of reaching the Saturday on the other side of the draw. The Prince Albert Challenge Cup throws us grudge matches all over the place as the top boats from Brookes and Newcastle meet on day one. The winner of that race will face the victor between Edinburgh’s top-ranked four and U.S.R. Triton of the Netherlands. Imperial will be pretty happy with their placing and will have one eye on a showdown with Washington on semi-finals day.
Junior Events
Wow. The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup has come to life, with phenomenal racing all over the shop on day one. Holders St Paul’s face Bedford School, who have had a brilliant season as the country’s fastest ‘first eight’. Although both are unselected, Latymer up against Deerfield should prove to be fascinating. Marin, St Paul’s, Shiplake and the Australian national silver medalists from Brisbane, Australia are all on the same side of the draw. The other 50% comprises Teddies – who face the 2022 German national champions on day one – Eton – who are up against Greenwich Crew of the USA in arguably the Tuesday’s most punchy race – King’s College School – who will be confident in their pathway to Friday’s racing – and Radley College – who will meet John Fife’s St Joseph’s Preparatory School, winners of the Stotesbury Cup and last seen at Henley Royal Regatta in 2021. The Prince Philip Challenge Cup throws us a range compelling narratives too, with the prospect of a Henley-Headinton re-match on day three of racing alongside what looks to be a heavyweight tussle between beaten 2022 finalists Winter Park and Australian national champions from Melbourne Girls Grammar School. Leander and Windsor Boys will likely renew acquaintances on the Saturday of the Fawley Challenge Cup whilst Sydney will need to see off competition from UK and US national silver medalists from Marlow and Los Gatos respectively. The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup separates US national champions, Oregon Unlimited, from UK national champions, Wycliffe Junior Rowing Club, until at least the Sunday. At the bottom of the draw, a resurgent outfit from Sir William Perkins may fancy their chances in dispatching all antipodean opposition in their path as they face up first against Buckingham before going on to tackle Pymble Ladies’ College.
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