Llandaff Rowing Club vs The King’s School, Chester
This race belonged to Llandaff right from the beginning. Being the first non-school crew to win a round in the Princess Elizabeth, leading and especially since the halfway marker will have been a result they have been pinning after all season. Starting off strong, the crews stayed within tight contact of each other until Llandaff slowly emerged ahead after leaving the forgiving shelter of Temple Island. Both crews were meticulously pushing forwards edging off each other, unclear who was in the lead. However, by the halfway mark, Llandaff had extended out to a two-length lead. With this being all the Llandaff athletes first Henley Royal Regatta before, their performance will have delighted them and their coach as they push on into the next round of racing. On the other side of this spectrum of racing experience, the King’s School Chester crew had a diaspora of experience with highly practised athletes competing alongside the fresher faces on the scene in their 15-year-old two-seat. Llandaff continued to hold this lead right up until the end, where they emerged victorious by four lengths.
Bedford School vs St Paul’s School
As the holders of the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup, St Paul’s School are one of the firm favourites for this event. Both crews left the start at phenomenal speeds, St Paul’s immediately wanting to grasp the lead. Despite knowing who they were up against, Bedford looked impressively composed and relaxed and remained focused as their opponents took the lead just after Temple Island. This race was owned by St Paul’s from the very beginning, it became more a question of how far ahead Bedford would allow them to go? Bedford managed this race well, staying strong and continuously pushing as St Paul’s tried to get away. Under the watchful guidance of Bobby Thatcher, it has been clear for over ten years now this man has the tools to allow his crews to win time and time again. And once again, this match became one of those times, as St Paul’s sped towards the finish ahead by two and a half lengths, chased down by Bedford’s final push, and won by around two lengths.
Great Marlow School vs Monkton Combe School
One of the tightest races of this event, the jump onto the start by the Monkton Combe School crew gave them the initial lead past the end of Temple Island. The extremely well-matched crews were battling it out to see who could nose in front right up until the Great Marlow crew managed to push through just as the boats were flying up to the enclosures. The first of their school to qualify for six years, the Monkton Combe crew responded to this move by increasing their pressure in each stroke, as the bow balls of each crew became level once again. From here, it became a conversation between the two crews, as Great Marlow pushed ahead so did Monkton Combe, and as the finish line became closer, the gap between the boats slowly became larger. Great Marlow took the win by around two lengths, and they will now be preparing to race the Eton crew later in this event.
Wednesday Previews
Windsor Boys vs St Paul’s School
In their rounds today, both the Windsor Boys and St Paul’s School won by a considerable margin. The Windsor Boys are known for their strength as a crew, and combined with their confidence after today’s success they will be raring to go against these new opponents. For St Paul’s, they will also have a sense of security in this race, due to being the holders of this event. Having won their race this morning by a comfortable distance, they will be hoping to do the same against Windsor Boys tomorrow leaving them relatively fresh for the later rounds of the regatta. I expect this to be a very tight race, where the crews will be bouncing off each other’s moves the whole way through. My prediction is for St Paul’s School to take the win, but it could go either way.
Deerfield vs Shiplake College
Deerfield have not had it easy at this year’s Regatta. They faced Latymer today, dispatching the Hammersmith-based school by around two lengths. Shiplake have previous in beating American outfits, having annihilated Greenlake Club in one of the only ‘easily’ verdicts of the day. With Shiplake having picked up speed since the National Schools’ Regatta, expect a competitive showing.
King’s College School Wimbledon vs Westminster School
Fifth and eighth from the National Schools’ Regatta meet again but this time on the 2112m Henley course. Both beat their respective opposition comfortably today to reserve some ammunition for tomorrow’s racing. KCS are perhaps slight favourites but expect a fiercely-contested match-up between two boats with lots to prove.
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