Oxford Brookes vs Leander Club, Ladies Challenge Plate Final, Henley Royal Regatta
Backed by a season of narrative and emotion, this race deserves a nomination based purely on what was on the line. Two heavyweights clashing on the Henley straights, driven by single bloody-mindedness and willpower to outdo each other. The race itself was a Regatta classic – Brookes jumped out to an early lead and had established half a length’s lead by the Fawley before Leander slowly reeled them in passing the Enclosures. Brookes prevailed by three feat to register the first of their five victories in the following six races.
K.A.R.Z.V. De Hoop, NED v London R C, Wyfold Challenge Cup Semi-Final, Henley Royal Regatta
This contest was arguably the race of the Regatta. Two crews locked together for the entirety of the 2112m course. So intimate was their connection that they crossed the line blades entwined after clashing violently with mere meters to go. The Dutch did everything they could to hold off a late London charge, having led for basically every stroke barring the final ten. In the end, this race was arguably the final a day or two early as Thames got nowhere near as close to London in the final of the Wyfold Challenge Cup.
Championship Boys Eights, Semi-Final (2), National Schools’ Regatta
To have three eights separated by less than 0.3 seconds is worth of a nomination alone. When you then factor in the reality that this semi-final – and subsequent placings – were crucial in determining who placed where in the final of Championship Boys Eights, the acclaim this contest deserves goes up a notch. This semi-final had the winners of the Schools’ Head of the River, last year’s beaten finalists in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup and the future national champions. An authentic barnstormer.
D. Dymchenko, AZE vs M. Wieliczko, POL, Princess Royal Challenge Cup Final, Henley Royal Regatta
There were a few singles race we could have gone for at this year’s edition of Henley Royal Regatta but we plumped for this one on account of several factors. Firstly, this heralded Diana Dymchenko’s long-awaited debut victory at the world-famous Regatta. Secondly, this was a race where the lead changed hands several times in several dramatic fashions. Thirdly, the closing stages of this contest were quite magical and reflective of our sport. Both scullers, exhausted and almost inseparable through over 2000m of water, almost drifted over the line together in a shared symbol of their respect and effort.
Strathclyde Park RC/ Twickenham RC vs Leander Club/ Twickenham RC, Championship Doubles Final, Henley Women’s Regatta
This race had the largest finishing margin of any on this list but it was special for a different reason. The Strathclyde/Twickenham combination had what looked like an insurmountable lead at the halfway mark – they had led from stroke one and their rhythm was powerful and composed. Clearly, no-one told Vwaire Obukohwo & Katherine George, who found something remarkable to overhaul their opposition with seconds left. Their battle was waged via attrition for so long before they dropped the hammer in the closing stages to scull away with a well-deserved victory.
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