Holder: K. M. Kohler, USA
Entries: 20
Down on entries from last year the Princess Royal has almost a fifty-fifty split between domestic and international scullers. Whilst it does not boast as many world or Olympic medalists as last year, it still looks set to be a fascinating event, with the victor hard to call at this stage. Last year’s holder Kara Kohler is absent so next Sunday a new champion will be crowned.
Cassidy Deane, Rowing Canada
Part of the Canadian National team who are targeting Henley, Deane has just returned from World Cup two where she raced the four and eight, placing fifth and third respectively. Going off results she looks to be relatively inexperienced in the single however she cannot be underestimated. Any athlete under the guidance of Lauren Fisher, former top British development coach and now Canada’s Head Coach, will be a force to be reckoned with. Deane may potentially be doubling up, as she did at World Cup two, but I would still expect her to go deep into this competition.
Diana Dymchenko, Rowing Club Baku
Dymchenko, one of the most familiar faces racing between the booms at this Regatta, is back for another year. Having been knocked out at the semi-final stage in 2018, 2019 and 2022, she will be desperate to make it to the Sunday this year. Dymchenko placed sixth at World Cup two last weekend, an improvement on her result at World Cup one so looks to be on an upwards trajectory heading into next week. Heavily experienced in the single, with World Cup wins, European medals and finals at World Championships, Dymchenko will still want a red box to add to that collection; could this be her year?
Matilda Hodgkins-Byrne, Upper Thames Rowing Club
Perhaps a surprise entry to many, Matilda Hodgkins-Bryne looks to be on a comeback post-pregnancy. A stalwart of the British sculling team pre-Tokyo, Hodgkins-Bryne has not raced since the Olympics where she placed seventh in the quad. Her entry follows recent strong criticism about British Rowing’s support during and after her pregnancy and she will want to make a point to selectors and coaches. Hodgkins-Bryne will have good preparation at Holland Bekker this weekend and should return full of confidence for tough head-to-head racing. Her rowing CV talks for itself with a plethora of World Cup, European and World Championship medals over the years and she will want to use this week as a stepping stone to get back to that level.
Sophia Luwis, Whitemarsh Boat Club
Luwis is an American lightweight in her first season establishing herself on the international scene. At World Cup two last weekend she put in an impressive performance to take the silver medal. She will come up against bigger opponents at Henley, but we’ve seen lightweights progress to finals day before and her form is perhaps the best out of anyone’s in the draw. It would not be surprising to see Luwis causing some upsets.
Samantha Voss, Waikato Rowing Club
Voss is a surprising entry into Henley Royal, having not raced internationally since 2019, suggesting another sculler on the comeback trail. Voss has no international results since 2019 where she was part of the kiwi quad that placed fifth at the World Championships. She has plenty of singles experience, having been an U23 world champion in 2018 and raced at multiple world cups. The last few years, she has been quiet and with little to suggest what form she is in she may be a dark horse in this event.
Marie-Sophie Zeidler, Donau-Ruder-Club Ingolstadt e.V.
Sister of Oli, Marie-Sophie Zeidler is here to make her own mark on the regatta. An impressive rower in her own right, Zeidler has been a part of the German senior team for a number of years, racing in the quad last year at the Europeans and World Cups. Her single calibre is less well known, but with the name Zeidler we cannot underestimate her physiology and potential. She is certainly one to watch out for.
Cara Grzeskowiak, Canberra Rowing Club
Henley Women’s Regatta winner Grzeskowiak is another entry into this event who cannot be discounted. Perhaps underestimated heading into last weekend, she took down the best domestic single scullers over the shorter course with relative ease. She will aim to spring a surprise against her international counterparts and cause a few upsets next week. Already experienced in the head-to-heads between the booms she will hope she can handle the longer course and continue her winning streak.
Prediction
This event is intriguing, and I have a feeling we could be in for a few surprises. It looks wide open as to who could make it to the final stages and any one of these scullers could make it to Sunday. It would be brilliant to see Dymchenko finally take the win after so many years of trying and 2023 may be her best opportunity yet.
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