And Some Rowing Too ? Henley Royal Regatta

Single winners Neykova and Allen

Unlike any other rowing regatta the Henley Royal Regatta in Great Britain is not just about rowing fast. The racing itself is in fact secondary for many of the spectators who use it as a backdrop for meeting friends, comparing attire, drinking, eating and occasionally glancing over their shoulder as a race goes by.

But for the competitors racing is all important with crews from as far away as Australia and South Africa hoping to survive each round and make it through to the final two boats.

At Henley the 19 events follow a one-on-one knockout style format starting last Wednesday and continuing through to the finals on Sunday. Crews from 15 nations were racing with talent ranging from junior club members through to top collegiate and national team boats. Some were reunion crews like Brown University from the United States that included three Olympians tucked inside the team. Others were local high schools experiencing the tradition of Henley.

By Friday some crews had raced once, been eliminated and were joining the 100, 000 spectators who revelled in the exclusive Stewards’ Enclosure, the public Regatta Enclosure or along the banks where bands play and stalls sold everything from champagne to rowing suits.

Henley umpire boat following the race

The best view of racing is from the Stewards’ Enclosure but to gain entry to this enclosure is by membership (or guest of a member) only. Membership is limited to 6,000 patrons and a ten year waiting list exists for new members. This enclosure is also famous for its dress code; men a jacket (or blazer, preferably gaudy) and tie. Women must wear skirts long enough to cover their knees.

There are no exceptions to these rules and one man who managed to sneak in this year in jeans and a tee-shirt ended up being officially escorted out. Women will often be seen at the entrance unpicking the hem of their Channel skirt to make it long enough to pass the standard.

Stewards’ Enclosure members are allowed to invite guests whose names can be linked back to the member. Any breaking of rules, like the ringing of mobile phones, can be enough to loose your membership.

On Saturday the crowds are still large and for some people it means another day of eating and drinking with champagne and Pimms the drink of choice. By Sunday, finals day, the crowds have begun to dwindle as partiers grow weary leaving the die-hard rowing fans to actually watch some races.

On the water the racing is just as competitive as any top rowing event. “The racing was excellent,” commented Henley regatta chairman, Mike Sweeney who noted that 10 different countries raced on finals day with the winning cups going to various countries.

Neykova admiring the winners cups

Both the men’s and women’s single left Great Britain’s shores with Wyatt Allen from the United States taking the men’s single. Allen, better known for his Olympic gold from the eight, commented afterwards that his win at Henley was just as special as Athens.

Two-time Olympic medallist, Rumyana Neykova of Bulgaria won the women’s single over Canada’s 2003 World Champion in the lightweight single Fiona Milne. Milne now competes for her new home of Melbourne, Australia. Neykova made no contest of the race by rowing away from Milne at the start and dropping her rating to an easy 24 strokes per minute and saving herself for the third Rowing World Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland later this week.

Last year’s winners of the men’s pair, Ramon Di Clemente and Donovan Cech of South Africa retained their number one position after racing Canada’s Barney Williams and Scott Frandsen in the final. Williams also stroked the men’s eight for his current university, Oxford, but missed out on the final of this event after being eliminated by Germany.

Germany went on to win the men’s eight despite the team being seen enjoying a beer or two the night before their final. The Germans raced Great Britain in a very close race with only 2/3 of a length separating the two boats at the finish.

Great Britain held onto the men’s four for another year as Steve Williams, Andy Hodge, Alex Partridge and Peter Reed continued on their winning ways by beating Canada’s four. Although neither crew steered well Canada fared worse when they hit one of the booms that line the edge of the course. “They effectively stopped and had to restart,” said Sweeney.

Both the men’s and women’s quads cups left Great Britain headed east. Poland made off with the men’s cup after beating Great Britain in the final and Ukraine went home with the women’s cup in a race against Thames Rowing Club.

For a complete list of results: www.hrr.co.uk

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