While it is always specular to watch the eights at Henley from the banks of the river, I have always found my favourite event to be the Prince Albert Challenge Cup. With the coxed four being a notably slower boat, there is much more room for crews to come back over a course if they find themselves down, providing some exciting racing for spectators. The popularity of the event with entries means that the competition is always very high and a dud race is rare.
Reviews
Edinburgh University VS Sydney University, AUS
What a spectacular race we had to kick off the Prince Albert this year. With this being Edinburgh’s top boat at the regatta and Sydney University not wanting to waste a very long journey over to England this was always going to be a great race. Although Sydney took a lead going through the barrier rating just a bit higher off the start, this was soon whittled away by Edinburgh who through gritted teeth fought back. Through Fawley, the momentum started to shift in favour of the Edinburgh crew, while Sydney gritted their teeth to cling onto what lead they had left. Along the enclosures, it was bow ball to bow ball, stroke for stroke, with Edinburgh just eeking out to a length lead as they crossed the finish line.
University of Washington, USA VS University College, Dublin, IRL
The strength of the Washington program means that they were always going to be one of the crews to watch out for in this event. Despite a very strong crew from Dublin, the Huskies were able to drive out to a length around the barrier. Despite being behind, the Dublin crew showed their strength and held on all the way down the course. Although Washington would pull out an eventual two-length lead, they were pushed all the way down the course.
Newcastle University VS A.S.R. Nereus, NED
Newcastle has once again entered its top boat into the Prince Albert Challenge Cup, having consistently performed well in it over the years. Here they kicked off their campaign in style, pulling out a length by the barrier with a very strong rhythm. With their Temple eight already knocked out, I’m sure blue star supporters were glad to see the Newcastle crew dispatch Nereus with a very clinical win of over 4 lengths. Newcastle will certainly be a crew to keep an eye on.
University of Bristol vs Oxford Brookes University ‘B’
Bristol has continued to build on their success at the BUCS regatta where they convincingly won intermediate coxed fours. With two athletes the same as the crew that made the semi-final last year in the same event, there were high hopes for this crew. Off the start, they took the lead over Oxford Brookes and looked to have a strong rhythm. You can never count out Oxford Brookes though who quickly fought back to take the lead through Fawley. With Brookes having just a half-length lead entering the enclosures, Bristol fought all the way to the line. Brookes held out to win by a third of a length in a cracking race.
Previews
University of Washington, USA VS Univ. of California, Berkeley ‘A’
The University of Washington had to push hard to beat the crew from Dublin and likely would have preferred a slightly easier race to start their regatta. While the University of California crew is not the top crew from Berkeley, they are not to be underestimated. Both Crews will have been wanting to make it to the weekend at least and so to be meeting so early into this regatta will have come as a bit of a blow. I expect Washington to win but not without having to once again dig deep.
Edinburgh University VS Newcastle University
Another match-up between the stalwarts of rowing in the North. After the eight from Edinburgh knocked out the Newcastle eight in the Temple Challenge Cup yesterday, the blue star crew will be looking to get their own back. The Prince Albert Challenge Cup crews are the top boat at Henley this year for both clubs, and both will be intent on making it to the weekend. Edinburgh has already shown their ability to fight back from behind, having rowed through Sydney University, while Newcastle made light work of defeating a top crew from Nereus. This is definitely going to be a great race to watch and one you will regret missing.
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