Cups Return and Elvis Bucks Tradition ? Henley Royal Regatta

Netherlands beat Harvard University in the eight
© Peter Spurrier

The sweep of winnings by overseas crews last year saw the departure of much of the coveted Henley Royal Regatta silverware from British shores to other countries, some of the cups going to the United States. But on American Independence Day, despite the appearance of Elvis (several times), many of the cups were reinstated back to England at the annual Royal regatta.

Nearly 300 crews began racing on 30 June at the Royal in Great Britain in a one-on-one style knockout event that narrowed to the final two in each event on Sunday 4 July.

Scattered in amongst the 1647 athletes was enough dry weather and big name crews for the 100,000 strong crowd to be drawn away from their pomp and Pimms to focus their eyes on the Thames River.

With trophies like the Princess Royal Challenge Cup and the Silver Goblets & Nickalls’ Challenge Cup, the event is so steeped in tradition that the venue feels like a re-enactment of the Henley’s 1839 origins revealing itself in everything from the garb of regatta chairman Mike Sweeney, to the umpires boat to the gentlemen in bowler hats checking ladies hemlines and banning cellphones.

Prince Albert of Monaco added to the royal flavour following in mother’s footsteps and handing huge silver cups to the final day winners.

Germany’s top sculler Marcel Hacker received one of these cups when he beat Oxford University’s Colin Smith in the men’s single. Hacker joined the spirit of the moment by appearing clean-shaven and sporting a dapper grey business suit for the occasion.

Coode joins Great Britain’s men’s four sitting behind Pinsent
© Peter Spurrier

One of the main draw cards for the event was the appearance of the British Olympic team. However, the injury-plagued squad suffered further blows when the much acclaimed men’s four lost three seat Alex Partridge to injury. The 23-year-old rowing phenomenon was diagnosed with a collapsed lung just before the start of Henley. Partridge was replaced by Ed Coode who rowed in the four earlier this season at the Poznan World Cup and the crew, along with Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell, went on to beat Australia’s non-Olympic four. Australia will now race at the World Championships later this month as their country’s coxed four.

The British men’s squad suffered again in the pair when Toby Garbett managed to race on the first day and then pulled out due to a muscle strain. This left Garbett’s partner, Rick Dunn, to race with James Livingston in the next round. They contended the final against Ramon De Clemente and Don Cech of South Africa. Cech and Clemente, in their fifth Henley, finally won the Silver Goblets & Nickalls’ Challenge Cup by 4 ¼ lengths over Livingston and Dunn.

Harvard University’s second crew spiced up the men’s university eights race when bow man Mike Harrington decided his jammed seat wasn’t going to budge. Harrington undid his oar, threw it overboard and followed it into the Thames. Rowing with seven the Harvard crew finished only two lengths behind eventual winners, A.S.R. Nereus from the Netherlands.

Netherlands eyes up their cup
© Peter Spurrier

The Netherlands also fared well in the Grand Challenge Cup when their recently qualified Olympic men’s eight, raced Harvard’s top crew in the final. The Dutch led the way at the start rating 42 strokes per minute and retained enough of a lead to stay ahead for the entire 2,112 metres in the head wind conditions.

The women’s quad from Great Britain continued on its winning ways by beating titleholders, Ukraine, in the final bringing the Princess Grace Challenge Cup back to England.