Reviews
Durham University ‘A’ vs Princeton University ‘B’, USA
After the clash of the Durham ‘B’ and Princeton ‘A’ boats yesterday, the more balanced matchup opened the second round of the Temple Challenge Cup. After the Palatinate started strong, taking a three-quarter length lead by Fawley, the Tigers responded at the mile post, closing the Durham advantage to less than half a length and making Will Fletcher sweat. But despite the pressure from the Princeton crew, Durham crew put the race to bed and moved away through the enclosures to finish a length to the good. They have booked themselves a place in Friday’s racing.
Oxford Brookes University ‘C’ vs A.S.R Nereus ‘B’, NED
In a phenomenal piece of racing, this was a spectacular clash between the lower boats of the top two university rowing programs in Europe. Off the start, the Nereus ‘B’ crew immediately jumped out to a half-length lead over Brookes ‘C’, stretching that to most of a length by the barrier. After initially looking down and out, the Brookes crew refused to let go of the Dutch crew, staying on their stern down the first half of the course. Then, out of nowhere, the Brookes crew started moving on the Dutch crew, unleashing their sprint earlier than planned they squeezed the margin to just a third of a length at the mile post. The Nereus crew responded in force, rowing the stripes off their shirts to claim victory by two thirds of a length.
D.S.R Laga ‘A’, NED vs Bristol University
With their fabled time and speed posted on the other side of the North Sea, Laga loom large over this Temple Challenge Cup. However, they have been rarely seen at the business end of the Regatta and subsequently there remained some mystery around just how good they were given the favourable conditions they have experienced. They faced a true barometer in the form of Bristol: the fastest British university at the Metropolitan Regatta and the second-fastest at Marlow. The Dutch crew answered the challenge, rushing out to a length’s lead by the quarter mile. Despite a late Bristol challenge, the Dutch crew moved off to claim a one-and-three-quarter length margin, looking relatively composed after the finish.
Previews
Durham University ‘A’ vs Oxford Brookes University ‘B’
This seems to be a rematch between the second and third place eights at the BUCS, where Brookes B ran out on top by more than 12 seconds ahead of Durham, but this was not quite so cut and dry. The Brookes crew draws mostly from their BUCS intermediate crews who won all three medals in the intermediate events, and they are taking on the Palatinate bronze medallists from championship category. More recently at Marlow Regatta, the crews were only separated by four seconds as Durham had the advantage in the time trial, but Brookes had the edge in the side-by-side. Regardless of history, it matters most what happens between the booms, and neither would be happy to end their seasons on Friday.
A.S.R Nereus ‘A’, NED vs Harvard University, USA
A.S.R Nereus against Harvard University is a classic Henley matchup. In 2019, Nereus defeated the Harvard heavies on Friday and five years later the lightweights will be looking for revenge. Entering the event as the arguable favourites, the Harvard lightweights have the speed to match almost any crew in the draw but may struggle in a significant forecasted wind. In their way sit A.S.R Nereus, one the most successful overseas crew in the history of this event and have brought significant speed with them. This match will be critical in the outcome of this event as they battle for a valuable weekend bid.
Oxford Brookes University ‘A’ vs D.S.R Laga ‘A’, NED
Given a different draw, this could easily have been the final. Oxford Brookes University need no introduction as the two-time defending champions, and the most successful institution in this event’s history. This crew has apparently changed in the last week or so following an underwhelming result at Marlow Regatta. Laga, from Delft in the Netherlands, caught the eyes of the rowing world when they posted a time of 5:29 in tailwind conditions two weeks ago on the Bosbaan and won against a strong field of Dutch universities. Today, the Brookes ‘B’ crew put the Laga ‘B’ crew to the sword, but this crew have the power and speed on board to avenge this defeat for their teammates.
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