Having been Head of Ceremonies – or “Chief Polisher” – for fifteen years until 2022, and as joint record-holder for the most wins, Naomi Ashcroft steps into her newly-announced role of Chair of Henley Women’s Regatta (HWR). We sat down with her at the beginning of December to learn about her longstanding ties to HWR, and her views on the future of women’s rowing more broadly.
It is easy to see that she exactly suits the do-it-yourself attitude upon which the Regatta was first built, regaling stories of the long and winding ascent of her own career, and the grassroots scene she was a part of in the Northwest.
She clearly has a deep respect for the “ultimate team sport” and continues to compete today: “Once you’re a rower you’re always a rower”. Even when asked slightly more pointed questions, she answers candidly, without recourse to an ‘official party statement’ on the matter.
We touch on the controversy of two years ago when the Friday morning time trials presented issues for junior athletes in the middle of exams, particularly those travelling from a long way away facing a geographical disadvantage. She laughs and promises that the junior time trials will remain on the Saturday morning, expressing pity but showing a confident leadership and understanding of what makes an event like this work best.
With disappointing odds in the retention of girls in sport – half failing to continue from childhood – the regatta was criticised for claiming to “remain a women’s regatta and not a junior women’s regatta” two years ago after reducing crews for all junior events. Ashcroft does however talk at length about the importance of supporting juniors in the jump up to senior competition, and the importance of something like Henley Women’s in facilitating this.
Despite our reservations about presenting too many criticisms, as athletes whom, Ashcroft reminds, have always had the privilege of HWR in the racing calendar, she acknowledges that there is potential for improvement with the commentary, saying this is a long term aim for improvement.
I mention the irony of the fact that this potentially comes from the very female trait of downplaying modesty in reluctance to write much about their achievements or themselves generally on forms given to crews before the regatta, a big factor in fuelling decent commentary. It seems apt, considering Ashcroft’s own humble airs when asked initially about her own career. She mentions in passing her attendance of the world champs in Seville in 2002, electing to omit the gold medal she won in the lightweight pair.
Regarding other small fishes – the minor issues of the use of the term ‘girls’ instead of ‘junior women’ in the programme, the somewhat jejune pink oarswoman of the logo on merchandise and official photographs who faintly resembles someone on a broomstick – she still seems keen to fry. On all of these subjects she reciprocates in taking notes, clearly keen to get the feedback of the athletes across.
When asked what she wants to keep the same about HWR, she says she wouldn’t want to change the atmosphere built over the last three decades.
We talk briefly about one of the most attractive things we believe about the regatta; the diplomacy of rack sharing, the friendliness of volunteers, the slapped togetherness of sunshades made out of towels and trailers in Remenham meadow.
It is the familiarity and fondness of something proudly homegrown and handmade. It speaks to the determination of women’s desire to compete, without all the bells and whistles, and points all of the focus on the course.
This is exactly what Ashcroft puts across to us: “It’s all about the rowing.”
She emphasises the respect successful crews should have towards their opposition, who’ve likely trained just as hard and the lessons that can be learnt from racing equal and improving competition, always being pushed to improve ourselves. “You don’t have a winner unless there have been opposing crews to race”.
It seems an obvious thing to say, but remembering a time when women’s rowing was a much shallower pond to pick from, she has the deepest understanding and respect of this fact, and the need for a pure stage for serious competition.
This is not to say that there is not an enormous amount of effort which goes into HWR’s organisation, but it is no secret that it cannot compete with the commercial ferocity of HRR. Despite or perhaps because of this is the greater and more appropriate accessibility, in more ways than one.
Ashcroft points out that people are free to roam the course and can follow races the full way down the towpath. It is unsurprising given the well-moneyed, opulent circus that goes on around the racing all week at Royal.
Of course, this is also true of any sport when enough money and attention is thrown at it, but the particular disparity of professional athletes with booze-soaked fun floats full of wealthy punters churning up wash, or the sharp-dressed schmoozing of river-bank networking, is stark.
It is also completely missing from the busy-body efficiency of Henley Women’s. Yet more importantly, one of the things that it is certainly doing better than Henley Royal – creating an environment where the best of the best can rub elbows with the greenest beginners, and the importance of this in expanding women’s sport cannot be understated.
Ashcroft states that one of her biggest aims is securing the economic viability of the event. This and her appreciation of HRR’s aid and cooperation in sharing the course come as somewhat surprising evidence of her practical approach to the regatta and the fact that, firstly, we demand a lot of an event that already has done so much for women’s rowing, and secondly, that incessant comparison with Henley Royal is not necessarily productive.
Some might have heard of the clever gimmick staged by Annabel Eyres in handing the HRR Chairman the ‘Gentlemen’s Plate’ at the 1990 World Championships – a pointed joke at the lack of women’s events two years after HWR’s inception.
While women are cursed and challenged to always push and labour in edging nearer to equality, it is still refreshing to see someone in the wake of this history, talking frankly and earnestly about a women’s regatta, without feeling the need to compare it to another regatta which takes place on the same course a few weeks afterwards, or apologise for the way it runs. And perhaps it means that Ashcroft steps into her new role in a time when women’s rowing is finally allowed to stand – and flourish – on its own.
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