Finals Day at a Classic Henley: Everyone's a Winner

Frankfurter Rudergesellschaft do some pre-race bonding. It must have been effective as they won the Thames Cup.

Tim Koch reports from the final day at Henley:

The last boat crossed the Henley finish line just after 4.07pm, Sunday 6 July. The day saw twenty winners and twenty boats that did not win. I am not going to say that they were ‘losers’ because to race in a final at Henley Regatta is a pretty special thing. Those going home without a medal may not have found this much compensation in the immediate post-race period but, by the time I am writing this, they should be feeling a little better (though some probably will not be feeling anything at all having sought solace in the warm bosom of alcohol).

I have returned home, not with a Henley Medal, but with 500 photographs that I took in the space of eight hours. I will treat HTBS readers to a selection of them over the next week, probably covering the ‘open’ events first and later dealing with the rest. In brief, the results are below. This is followed by an edited version of the official press release on the finals races. Finally, though it is getting very late and it’s back to work on Monday, I would like to share a special insight that I gained on the last day of the races into what makes champions.

Open Men
Grand Challenge Cup (8+) – Leander & University of London
Stewards’ Challenge Cup (4-) – Molesey B.C. and Leander Club
Queen Mother Challenge Challenge Cup (4x) – Leander Club & Agecroft RC
Silver Goblets & Nickalls’ Challenge Cup (2-) – Julien Bahain & Mitchel Steenman (Netherlands)
Double Sculls Challenge Cup (2x) – Stany Delayre and Jérémie Azou (France)
Diamond Challenge Sculls (1x) – Mahe Drysdale (New Zealand)

Open Women
Remenham Challenge Cup (8+) – Leander & Imperial College, London
Princess Grace Challenge Cup (4x) – Leander Club & Gloucester RC
Princess Royal Challenge Cup (1x) – Mirka Knapkova (Czech Republic)

Intermediate Men
Ladies’ Challenge Plate (8+) – University of California, Berkeley (USA)
Visitors’ Challenge Cup (4-) – Harvard University (USA)
Prince of Wales Challenge Cup (4x) – Leander Club

Student Men
Temple Challenge Cup (8+) – Oxford Brookes University ‘A’
Prince Albert Challenge Cup (4+) – Newcastle University ‘A’

Club Men
Thames Challenge Cup (8+) – Frankfurter R.G. (Germany)
Wyfold Challenge Cup (4-) – Upper Thames RC ‘A’
The Britannia Challenge Cup (4+) – Upper Thames RC ‘A’

Junior Men
Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup (8+) – Eton College
Fawley Challenge Cup (4x) – Sir William Borlase’s School

Junior Women
Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup (4x) – Gloucester RC

Mirka Knapkova - the Champion’s Champion.

This is what the HRR press release said about some of the races rowed on finals day:

British crews produced a strong string of performances to dominate the finals day of the 175th Anniversary Henley Royal Regatta. There were wins in the open events for men’s and women’s eights, the men’s four and the men’s and women’s quadruple sculls on a day which saw a brace of races decided by just three feet after the 2112-metre course.

As expected the Olympic Champions Mahe Drysdale, of New Zealand, and Mirka Knapkova, Czech Republic, won the two open events for single scullers, adding to their growing collection of previous titles.

The GB Rowing Team’s powerhouse men’s four added another international win to the European and world cup golds they have already won this season when they romped home in the Stewards’ Challenge Cup for men’s fours. Seasoned rowing observers have begun to pick this crew, coached by Jurgen Grobler, as a potential Rio Olympic winners. The four (are) Andrew Triggs Hodge, George Nash, Mohamed Sbihi and Alex Gregory....

By contrast the University of California, Berkeley, won the Ladies’ Challenge Plate for Intermediate men’s eights by just three feet in a bow-ball to bow-ball finishing sprint against Leander Club to the background noise of the famous “Remenham Roar” from the packed spectators.

Tideway Scullers’ School were disqualified during the final of the Wyfold Challenge Cup for men’s club fours. The verdict came from umpire Mike Williams after an early infringement along the enclosures and meant that Upper Thames Rowing Club won their second title of the day. The locally-based club had waited years for a first victory here and then two came together as they also won the Britannia Challenge Cup title in the opening race of the day.

Gloucester RC’s junior women’s quad recovered well from an early morning training scare – during which they broke their blades in a brush with a moored spectator boat – to win the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup for junior women’s quadruple sculls against Marlow RC. Marlow experienced some unsteady steering early in the race and recovered to chase but could not challenge the Gloucester quartet.

Scratch pairing Julien Bahain and Mitchel Steenman surprised even themselves by winning the final of the Silver Goblets and Nickalls’ Challenge Cup for men’s pair from South Africa. Bahain flew in as a late substitute in this crew earlier this week.

It was tight, too, for much of the course between the British women’s eight, racing as Leander and Imperial College, and the their Dutch counterparts in the Remenham Challenge Cup. The British had the upperhand in the early part of the race with the margin fluctuating somewhere between a half and three-quarter length.

In the Grand Challenge Cup final for men’s eights the British national eight , stroked by Henley resident Will Satch, were also in the driving seat once they emerged from a closely fought contest to the Fawley landmark with the French national crew. They drew away to win in 6:15.

Eton College emerged from a very tight race to take the lead with 450m to go in their Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup final against St Edwards’ School from Oxford.

Stany Delayre (Bow) and Jérémie Azou (Stroke) return to the rafts followed by their defeated opposition, Collins and Walton.

Perhaps the honour of the stand-out crew, however, fell to Stany Delayre and Jeremie Azou, France’s lightweight double sculls, whose finishing speed was enough to see them win against the emerging British open double of John Collins and Jonny Walton in the Double Sculls Challenge Cup. In the afternoon session a collective shocked intake of breadth later accompanied those two finalists in that Double Sculls Challenge Cup for men as the crews moved past the grandstands. Not a hair’s breadth separated the crews before Delayre and Azou squeezed on to win. Azou said:

“There was just a moment in the second half where I thought that maybe we weren’t going to win, as nothing we could do could break them. Then with about 300m to go, I sensed an opportunity. The surge just took us in front and the drama continued right to the finish”.

It was Delayre and Azou that gave me an insight into what makes winners. I had spent the morning on the photographer's stand by the progress board, ten stroke from the finish. While this gives a great view of the racing, it is in the boat tent area, where the crews return after a race, that the ‘human interest’ lies. Thus, I spent the afternoon photographing the winners and non-winners returning to the pontoons and to their supporters – including the French double.

Stany Delayre (Bow) and Jérémie Azou (Stroke) are 2014 European Doubles Champions – but in lightweight. They weigh in at around 11 stone / 154 lbs / 70 kg. Their opposition today was 15 stone 1 lb / 211 lbs / 95 kgs and 14 stone 5 lbs / 201 lbs / 91 kgs. The eventual three-foot verdict in favour of the Frenchman took some time to come. Both doubles waited at the finish line for a period but Azou and Delayre decided to come into the pontoons. As they headed in, it was announced over the public address system that they had won. I was poised with my camera waiting for them to react to this news – but nothing happened. Equally strange, there was no one from their squad or any Henley official waiting for them and it soon became clear that they were so exhausted that they did not even try to get their bow side sculls over the dock and Delayre asked me to pull them in. As I did so, I kept repeating ‘You have won!’ and trying to think of how to say it in French (I decided that the informal ‘tu’ would be better than the more formal ‘vous’ but, importantly, I failed to come up with the word for ‘won’ – ‘tu as gagné’ the internet now tells me). However, it soon became clear that, even if I was fully certified by the Académie française, these boys had given their all and were not receiving messages in any language. I resorted to inane grinning and giving the ‘thumbs up’ sigh, hoping this did not mean something rude in France.

The Olympians and European Champions were so exhausted that they could not negotiate a landing.

Azou checks on his collapsed crewmate.

A slow recovery.

The message finally sunk in, but they were still too spent to give much reaction. They started to remove their sculls from the gates but, for what seemed like a long time, it was only my weight on stroke’s rigger that stopped them going swimming. They spent a long time lying on the pontoon, looking remarkably like two men who had just lost. And that, children, is what you need to become a champion.

Tu as gagné.

Our final Drink of the Day’ must be Champagne.

From the Stewards’ Cellars.

Leander release the fizz.

Mahe Drysdale swaps his water bottle for something stronger.

It tastes better out of one of these.

Read what the Telegraph's Rachel Quarrell wrote about the races on the final day here.

Henley Day 3, Friday: Brawn on the 4th July

Yank on Yank action on Independence Day. University of California, Berkley, USA, lead California Rowing Club and New York Athletic Club, USA, in a heat of the Ladies’ (which is not for ladies). The composite’s ‘7’ man was Jamie Koven, who is a Henley Steward.

The press office produced a nice quote from Alex Gregory of the GB Men’s Four:

I’m really looking forward to getting out and racing here. It’s a unique course, there’s nothing like it in the world. There are so many things to contend with - the wind, stream, the wooden booms. If you crash into one of those you’re finished. It’s just quite exciting. Then you have the crowd right on top of you. I’d say that, apart from the Olympics at Dorney Lake, there’s nothing like racing at Henley.

Good links: Rachel Quarrell’s Friday report for the Telegraph is here and the official HRR website has results, and a webcam which refreshes every 15 seconds during racing hours.

This is an edited version of the Friday press release by Caroline Searle:

Olympic single scull Champions Mahe Drysdale and Mirka Knapkova are safely through their first round races at Henley Royal Regatta. New Zealander Drysdale won by an official “easily” verdict over his compatriot George Bridgwater in the Diamond Challenge Sculls – the latter making a comeback after a long lay-off since winning Olympic bronze in another boat class in 2008. In the same event Alan Campbell of Tideway Scullers’ School was amongst the first British squad members to race at this year’s Regatta. The new father – his daughter was born only a couple of weeks ago – won comfortably. He now races the in form Dutchman Roel Braas for the right to face Drysdale or Australian Nick Purnell in Sunday’s final. Knapkova, in the Princess Royal Challenge Cup, was beaten off the start by Gabriella Rodriguez of Marlow Boat Club but caught her swiftly and went on to win by several lengths. Polish Olympic medallist Julia Michalska Plotkowiak, who now lives in London, has also come out of retirement to race here at the 175th Anniversary event and opened her account with a win also in the Princess Royal Challenge Cup.

Alan Campbell of Tideway Scullers’ School (which is actually not a school).

Elsewhere other GB Rowing Team crews from the national squad were in action. The British men’s double sculls of John Collins and Jonny Walton, who won their opening race today, know the Henley Reach stretch of water well as they are from nearby Leander Club.

The British women’s eight, racing as Leander and Imperial College, were not tested by a combined Dutch and British student crew but a development GB crew were not so lucky. They drew the Australian national crew in the opening round and came off second best by over four lengths.

Alan Sinclair and Scott Durant, who are a GB pair, won their opening race against club opposition in the Silver Goblets for men’s pairs. The two GB women’s quads – one open and one lightweight – were scheduled to race in today’s evening session (both won).

Some river traffic not normally found at international regattas.

German crews also had a good day on Henley Reach. They recorded three wins – in the Britannia Challenge Cup against Nottingham R.C, in the Prince of Wales Challenge Cup against local club Henley R.C. and against Molesey B.C. in the Thames Challenge cup.

In the opening race of the morning Zee Club Zürich got the better of Molesey BC in a re-row of their Visitors’ Challenge Cup race from last night which had resulted in a remarkable dead heat. Zee Club went on to race Oklahoma City River Sport in the early evening session. (Oklahoma won).

Here is my more visual coverage of some of Friday’s activities:

Delayre and Azou (European Lwt 2x Champions) of Club France lead Gong and Long of Shanghai Jiao University, China, in the Double Sculls Challenge Cup and won by 3 1/2 lengths.

A sporting gesture from Long to Delayre and Azou. The Frenchmen were approximately 70kgs each, the Chinese were approximately 100kgs and 95kgs.

The Princess Elizabeth (Junior Men’s Eights) always seems to produce good racing. Here Brunswick School, USA, on the left, race Hampton School from near London. They are at the ‘Progress Board’, which is ten strokes from the finish. Hampton had led by a quarter of a length, but they were overtaken at the Mile and only regained the lead in the last few strokes.

Hampton and Brunswick at the finish. I have criticised schoolboys for overacting but I think Hampton’s display may be justified.

Brunswick feel the pain.

Leander catches a crab during its race with Westminster School in the Fawley Challenge Cup (Junior Men’s Quads).

Tideway Scullers’ School’s Britannia Challenge Cup Crew (Club Coxed Fours) prepares to boat. They are led out by Henley Steward, Sir David Wootton, who was the 684th Lord Mayor of London, 2011 - 2012.

Frankfurter Rudergesellschaf Germania Von 1869 E.V., Germany, seem happy with their win over Molesey in a heat of the Thames Cup (Men’s Club Eights).

Gloucester Rowing Club and Northwich Rowing Club winning their heat of the Princess Grace (Women’s Open Quads).

Radley Mariners feel the strain as they lose to Sydney Rowing Club, Australia, in a heat of the ‘Brit’.

More good racing in the Princess Elizabeth. The small St Edward’s School Boat Club (‘Teddies’) convincingly beats the more prestigious (‘Ra, Ra’) Radley Boat Club.

Club France beat Hollandia Roeiclub by 1 1/4 lengths in the Queen Mother Challenge Cup (Men’s Open Quads).

Leander take it home in a heat of the Prince of Wales Challenge Cup (Men’s Intermediate Quads).

A briefing session in the nearest thing to privacy in the boating area.

Umpire Michael Williams flags a clean race.

This swan was removed from the course for his own safety – and because he was not wearing a tie. A former member of Cygnet Rowing Club?

The evening shadows lengthen as the day draws to an end.

Today's 'Drink Of The Day' is Pimm's, the quintessential Henley Royal Regatta libation.

Single Rivals and Best Buddies

Earlier in December, the Swede Lassi Karonen, who has semi-retired from elite rowing, travelled across the world to give Mahe Drysdale a match in the Billy Webb Challenge.

FISA's website writes in an article,

'The men’s single sculls is a special boat class. It attracts some of the biggest, strongest and toughest athletes the sport of rowing has to offer. They are the type that can put themselves through a world of pain during round after round of racing, with nobody else to rely on to motivate them or to coach them during the hard mid-race strokes.'

Read the whole article here.

The Draw for the 172nd Wingfield Sculls

This year's umpire Sophie Hosking (2008 and 2009 Wingfields Champion, 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist, W Lwt 2x) racing in the 2010 Wingfields.

Tim Koch writes from London,

The Wingfield Sculls is a single sculling race run over the Putney to Mortlake course on the Thames in London. It was first held in 1830 and the women’s race was added in 2007. At various times it has included the titles of ‘Championship of the Thames’ and the ‘British (or English) Amateur Sculling Championship’.

Wingfield Sculls. Part of the men's trophy.

A press release from Wade Hall-Crags, the Honorary Secretary of the Wingfield Sculls states:

Thursday, 1st November will see two races of Internationals challenging for the title ‘Champion of the Thames’. This is the 172nd race for the pair of silver sculls presented by Henry C. Wingfield ‘to be held by the best’ as long as they agreed to race on his birthday, 10th August, ‘for ever’. The events are organised by a committee consisting of former winners (‘Champions’), who each meet each year to arrange the races and appoint an umpire from among their ranks.

The 2012 Olympic Regatta saw several former Wingfields Champions win medals. There was Gold for Sophie Hosking in the Women’s Lightweight Double, for Anna Watkins in the Women’s Heavyweight Double and Mahe Drysdale in the Single. Bronze medals went to Greg Searle in the Eight and Alan Campbell in the Single.

Wingfield Sculls Women's Trophy. 

The Women’s Race starts at 12:30 and will be between Imogen Walsh (London RC), Debbie Flood (Leander), Beth Rodford (Gloucester) and Jess Eddie (University of London). Debbie and Beth were in the Quad that came fifth in the Olympics and Jess was fifth in the Olympic Eight. Imogen will be the only new competitor in the race, she won Gold in the Lightweight Quad at the 2011 World Championships.

From the Wingfield Sculls archive. The record of the first eight races.

The Men’s Race starts at 1:30 and sees the exciting meeting of last year’s winner (and course record holder) and the current Olympic Gold and Bronze medalists. Put another way, it is the meeting of the 88th Champion, the 87th Champion and the 86th Champion. Lightweight Adam Freeman-Pask will be defending his title against Olympic sculls winner Mahe Drysdale and London third placed sculler, Alan Campbell. Mahe was Wingfields Champion in 2007 and 2008 and Alan won in 2006, 2009 and 2010. In Alan’s 2009 victory he beat his great rival, friend and clubmate, Mahe, the only time they have raced each other over the Putney to Mortlake course.

In his A History of Rowing (1957), Hylton Cleaver said:

... Henry C. Wingfield... in 1830 presented a prize for a race ‘between gentlemen’ on condition that it was rowed at half flood from Westminster to Putney against all challengers annually on the 10th day of August. Like Thomas Doggett he blandly added the words ‘for ever’... The race is now rowed over a different course, and on any day which is decided upon by the committee, not even necessarily at half flood. But Mr. Wingfield achieved immortality in one respect. The race has gone on a great deal longer than he had any justifiable reason to expect.

The HTBS video of last year’s race is here.

World Rowing Championships Blogs

World Rowing Championships have started on Lake Karapiro in New Zealand. A little different way to follow the teams or certain athletes is to go to their web sites or blogs. When I was looking around for English-speaking rowing blogs, I could only find a few, actually the ones listed below. If you know of any others, please feel free to send them to me so I can posted them on HTBS. Thanks.

Enjoy!













Mahé Drysdale, single scull, New Zealand














Alison ‘Ali’ Cox, four, USA













Megan Kalmoe, quadruple scull, USA













Mary Whipple, cox, eight, USA













David Calder, quadruple scull, Canada














Rebecca Scown and Juliette Haigh, pair, New Zealand