Reviews
Lea RC v Los Gatos RC, USA
This was a tangerine dream and then some. Right off the start, Lea reminded us all that the fact they had to pre-qualify was truly bizarre. Not only did the ladies in orange do themselves proud with a zesty four-and-a-half-length win, they saw off USRowing Youth Champs silver medalists, Los Gatos, who many predicted to make it all the way to the weekend. If anything solidifies the superiority of the wider UK schoolgirl sculling scene versus international challengers, it was this race.
RC Zurich, SUI v Tideway Scullers’ School
Reigning Diamond Jubilee Champions were quick off the blocks, leading from the start. Despite the experience and strength from this Swiss crew, the only European crew in the Diamond Jubilee, they were no match for Tideway Scullers, who blasted past them, with a length lead at the quarter mile, and later a four-length lead at Fawley. The European visitors tried to hang on, not letting the power or rate down, but it was no match for the TSS start. This thundering performance from TSS allowed them to relax into a composed rate of 26 at the Enclosures. This race may be a déjà -vu moment for those following the Regatta closely, with the TSS crew in the Fawley also winning by a similarly large margin against the Swiss. This result will give TSS confidence that they can deal well with the blustery conditions going into the quarter finals.
Special Mention – the wonders of Wycliffe
To have not just your ‘A’ crew but your ‘B’ crew also progress into the quarter finals at Henley Royal Regatta is something to behold, testament to the undisputed dominance of this sculling program. While the ‘A’ crew is the clear front-runner, their ‘B’ crew cruised to victory almost as easily. All being well, I can foresee both progressing further to comprise 50% of the semi-finalists here – an outstanding achievement in itself.
Previews
Wycliffe College ‘B’ v Lea RC
After a smooth and sophisticated run down the track that dispatched Headington today, Wycliffe’s ‘B’ crew have proven that the depth of this program is peaking at just the right time. They will be raring to go again, but facing Lea – fourth-place National Schools’ Regatta finishers who bested Los Gatos in style – will be a tightly-fought battle. While Wycliffe ‘B’ will certainly rise to the challenge, I foresee the Hackney heroines taking the win on the day.
Wycliffe College ‘A’ v Hartpury College
Wycliffe ‘A’ needs no introduction. These girls have shown us everything that makes for a perfect crew, and they unsurprisingly sailed through their opening heat today. They may have to take things up a gear against local Gloucester rivals, Hartpury College, but even with Henley Women’s Regatta winners on board, I find it nigh-on impossible to imagine a world where Wycliffe don’t come out on top. A tête-à -tête between two of the best schoolgirl sculling programs in the country will be a pleasure to witness from the press box.
EL Crossley School, CAN v Marlow RC
Time to see what the Canadian national champions have got against the National Schools’ Regatta silver medalists. EL Crossley School seemed to take today’s choppier conditions in their stride and walk over Shiplake, so may cause more disruption to Marlow’s otherwise composed Henley campaign in what sadly looks to be an abysmally rainy day. Still, I don’t find myself convinced that they can overturn the Marlow girls, who are propelling themselves through to a place in Sunday’s final, provided they can fend off the rest of the field.
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