Despite the record entry at this year’s Henley Royal Regatta – including incredibly competitive open events across the board – you would be forgiven for being caught unawares when entries were released to the public on Thursday 20th June. In an Olympic year, we usually see diminished quality at the international end of Regatta, as crews prefer to prepare for the imminent Games by training or going out on camp. There have been a few stand-outs over the years though, and judging by 2024, Henley Royal Regatta is becoming an increasingly important event to attend in the lead-up to the sport’s premier race.
Oliver Zeidler will race at Henley in 2024, alongside four other Paris-bound scullers. The big German is tilting for his fourth Diamond Challenge Sculls victory (having already won in 2019, 2022 and 2023) and will race at this year’s event despite the Olympics starting three weeks later. “Henley Royal Regatta is a good chance to race once more before the Olympics,” he said. “The water is difficult and added a lot of stability to my rowing within the last years, so I hope to benefit from it this year too.”
With all the noise around the Paris course, it is no surprise Zeidler is keen to maximise time on bumpy water. Henley Royal Regatta is notoriously tricky to row on, given the hundreds of pleasure cruisers cavorting mere metres from the course. 2024 will also see Jacob Plihal of Craftsbury Green Racing Project, U.S.A, Sid Ali Boudina of Algeria Rowing, Algeria, Filip-matej Pfeifer of VeslaŠki Klub Ljubljanica, Slovenia and Dara Alizadeh of Bermuda Rowing Club, Bermuda all race at Henley with Olympic representation front of mind.
Another clear example of the boost that racing at Henley Royal Regatta can give you was Mahe Drysdale’s decision to come to the event in 2016. Unlike Zeidler, whose trip is hundreds of miles and whose Olympic Games will only be a hop over the channel, Drysdale choose to attend HRR in the UK from his native New Zealand before flying on to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “When preparing for the Olympics you plan out your year, look at all the available racing and make a decision as what fits that plan best,” explained Drysdale. “Henley for me has always been a consideration in that decision. I love Henley Royal Regatta, the history, the people, the event and the one-on-one racing; that’s why I’ve been back as many times as I could.”
In 2016, the entry list was strong but beyond a couple of notable exceptions – Natan Wegrzycki-Szymczyk of Poland and Hannes Obreno of Brugse Trim en Roeiclub, Belgium – most were treating Henley as their #1 race of the season. “Generally in Olympic year, the third World Rowing Cup is not well attended by countries, so it can mean your last real hit out against your main competition can come eight to nine weeks from the Olympics,” said Drysdale. “My preference was always to use formal competition over ‘internal’ racing within the squad.”
So, Mahe arrived at Henley in 2016 with dual focuses; to win the event but, first and foremost, to deepen his preparation for the Olympic Games. “When looking at the calendar and our plan, we decided adding an additional race four weeks out from the Olympics would be beneficial,” explained Drysdale. “Our guess was it would likely be only one flat-out race but with Rio water likely to be rough, racing in ‘bumpy’ water that you do at Henley would be beneficial. Given where we were at in training, it was decided that I would race fatigued and wouldn’t back off my sessions in the lead-up to racing. We believed a tired race would ‘do me good’.
Travelling halfway around the world presents its own challenges though. “We faced a few hurdles in the build-up,” he said. “I came in the night before racing with my wife Juliette and 18-month-old baby. Our plane was firstly delayed then rerouted to an alternative airport. This meant that rather than arriving into Henley around 5pm, we didn’t get there until 1am. I was up early to rig and train. I trained hard every morning, rowing 20k on the water (16k on finals day pre-race). Each race, I picked a mark on the course for a maxed effort, looking to go further each round with the full distance in the final.”
To those who follow the HRR livestream closely, you will remember Martin Cross’ dulcet tones as, in the final, Hannes Obreno put in a brilliant closing sprint to overcome Drysdale and win a remarkable Diamond Challenge Sculls title. Despite that, Mahe reflects positively on the experience. “I certainly got what I wanted and the disrupted travel, young child and racing fatigued ultimately took its toll,” he said. “I didn’t have my best race in the final, coming up against a fired-up Obreno who raced brilliantly. With tired legs, I didn’t have a second gear to overcome a tough competitor.”
“Again there was criticism. While I was disappointed not to win, I followed the plan and achieved the purpose I went to Henley for – racing fatigued, in bumpy water and with a few tough contests in formal competition. So I went away overall happy and ready for Rio.”
Mahe went on to win a historic second gold in Rio, edging out Damir Martin of Croatia by milimetres on the line. “I won in Rio so as they say the rest is history. Would I make the same decision again? Absolutely!” he laughed.
“There was criticism in many circles that I attended Henley and ultimately I didn’t win. But, for me, it served its purpose when I lifted gold at the Olympics.”
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