Reviews
St Catherine’s School, AUS v Winter Park Crew, USA
This was a match-up we were all highly anticipating. Sadly, I came away feeling rather underwhelmed by the sheer margin with which Aussie national champions, St Catherine’s School, put three-time Henley Royal competitors, Winter Park Crew, to the sword. Two and a half entire lengths of choppy water separated these crews, and it was St Catherine’s school whose bows cut through the headwinds like a knife through warm butter to cruise over the line. They will be grateful for the relatively smooth run, as they go on to face one of their biggest threats to snatching the Trophy: Headington School.
Marin RA, USA v Surbiton High School
With a characteristically explosive start for the USRowing Youth National Championship silver medalists, they blasted to an early lead over Surbiton High School by the End of the Island. For Surbiton, unfortunately, Marin’s lead was never to be overturned. Finishing eighth at the National Schools’ Regatta is nothing to be sniffed at. However, up against the girls right at the business end of US rowing, it was pretty inevitable that Surbiton would be left behind. And behind they were left, as Marin ploughed on to reach a lead of one and a half lengths by the Fawley, extending to two and a half by the mile marker.
Henley RC v Shiplake College
This fourth v fifth-place match up from the National Schools’ Regatta was turned on its head today. It was a tale of two halves, as Henley took the initial lead out of the blocks, but it was Shiplake who rowed through with the grit and determination not to be overturned by their local rivals. While several moves were made to put Shiplake back in their place at the second half, Henley eventually ran out of gas as Shiplake charged on with confidence, ultimately crossing the line with the win and the bragging rights on the local Henley stretch for the summer.
Previews
St Edward’s School v Newport Aquatic Center, USA
We have the transatlantic tussle of national silver medalists coming up here. After comfortable wins today, this quarter final will be a different story altogether, perhaps reminiscent of the photo finishes experienced by both crews in their respective national finals. We’ll most likely see the snappier start from Teddies, who may lead by the End of the Island, but Newport will be right up there alongside, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a stroke-for-stroke duel all the way down the course. It’s nearly impossible to predict this one, but I’ll go with Teddies for the win, by what may turn out to be less than a canvas if both crews bring their A games.
St Catherine’s School, AUS v Headington School
It’s safe to say the Aussie national champions properly asserted themselves as strong contenders for the Trophy after depriving previous weekenders Winter Park Crew of even making it to a quarter final. That said, the forthcoming match-up against Henley Women’s Regatta victors and all-round stalwarts of schoolgirl eights, Headington School, promises to be one of much tighter margins. Even if Headington begin on the back foot against the lightning-fast start of St Catherine’s, we saw them row through Hinksey in an outstanding final two weeks ago, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see them repeat this tomorrow. I back Headington to clinch the win from St Catherine’s and advance to Saturday’s semis.
RowAmerica Rye, USA v Hinksey Sculling School
As brutal as it may be for the reigning US and UK national champions to face each other in a quarter final, I have no doubt that both RowAmerica Rye and Hinksey will give us a race for the ages tomorrow. Both will be riding high after their triumphant performances today, though Hinksey will be all the more galvanised after they were pipped to the post at Henley Women’s Regatta by Headington School a mere two weeks ago. As for the Americans, they have been consistently at the top of their national table all season long, but they’ll be well aware of the challenge that awaits them in overturning Hinksey. The majority will bet on RowAmercia Rye, but I’ll back the underdogs and vouch for a Hinksey win right on the line.
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