Off the back of some seriously competitive races yesterday, looking at the draw, we’ve been left with some of the most intimidating names in student rowing. I can only anticipate Wednesday will offer some surprising saturday-style racing ahead of the quarter-finals.
Princeton University ‘A’ v Cambridge University
These universities, both alike in academic prestige, boasted two formidable lightweight crews for the first race after the lunch interval. The Cambridge crew of course victorious in the Boat Race, and Princeton comfortably winning the Lightweight IRA category, guaranteed to put an entertaining race on display. Despite a British lead out of the Island, the Tigers soon gained a quarter, half then three-quarter advantage before the Fawley marker saw them settle into a more comfortable position, all while Cambridge are rating suspiciously low at 34. Coming into the enclosures, Light Blue did close the margin, but their efforts were belated and lost the duel by half a length.
Princeton University ‘B’ v Oxford Brookes University ‘A’
The Tiger heavies endured, what I can only assume, was a shocking margin behind the first Brookes boat. Admittedly, the English were the favourite for this race. Despite Princeton’s arguably punchier approach they never broke the elastic, with Oxford looking as powerful as ever.
Cornell University v Durham University ‘A’
This was the race of the day. With both crews launching punchy out of the blocks, Big Red pulled away at the end of the island and established a third-of-a-length lead, neither crew relenting as they kept striking at rate 37. Although the margin did reach a half length, Durham were quick to claw it back, both crews increasing rates to 39 and 38 respectively before charging into the grandstand a mere canvas apart. Both rating in the forties, frenzied, the Durham-Cornell matchup converged and clashed in the final 100m, prompting cautionary glances at the umpire’s red flag. Cornell won by 3 feet, the closest margin of the day. Crossing the line cox Zirkman buried her head in her hands, regretful of her risky line, but in spite of palatinate’s challenge to the verdict, Cornell will go on to face the Huskies on Friday.
Racing today was one of two things: a clear victory or ‘neck-a-neck’. Moving into friday the wheat has been separated from the chaff.
Previews
Syracuse University v A.S.R Nereus ‘A’, NED
With only a second separating them, this international showdown promises to host some exciting races as the field becomes more concentrated with more daunting university names. Nereus of course have excellent pedigree in the Temple, having won the event twice in the past decade they will know what a winning crew will look like to warrant the trip over. Quite opposite, this is Syracuse’s first ever feature at Henley Royal and they will be looking to make their mark in the history books.
Princeton University ‘A’ v Oxford Brookes University ‘B’
Posting the same time to the Fawley marker and the finish today (albeit it under different race conditions), I am excited to see if the reigning IRA champions will be able to best arguably the strongest university programme in the United Kingdom. Aside from Oxford Brookes’ clear squad depth, this race will be a fun opportunity to compare the speeds of two top lightweight and heavyweight crews
Harvard University v Oxford Brookes University ‘A’
Both these crews, having been seeded, will race with fresh legs on Friday’s quarter-final round, particularly the Americans, who enjoyed a comfortable triumph over University of London ‘C’, keeping rate in the 20s for the majority of the race. Admittedly, the Brookes boys will be favourites for this race (if not the Temple trophy), but we have yet to see all Harvard has to offer.
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