Getting Outfitted for Henley

Dressed for Henley
© FISA

After all of these years, all 153 of them, it is not surprising that the Henley Royal Regatta is just as well known for the tradition and grandeur that goes on along the banks of Great Britain’s River Thames, as it is for the racing on the Thames.

The attire of many spectators invokes images of 1800s England and prime watching areas allow only members who must adhere to a strict dress code inside these enclosures. The men must be seen in a shirt, tie and blazer or suit while the women must follow a skirt-below-the-knees rule. Wearing rowing kit is completely out of the question along with shorts or trousers for women.

Spectators inside the enclosures are known for their vocal support. Competitors describe the adrenaline rush that comes with the roar of the crowd in the final stretch of the race. The cheering, also known as the enclosure wall of sound, is accentuated for the rowers by the spectators’ closeness to the water near the finish line.

Starting today the racing format continues for five days in a head-to-head knockout style over the 2112 metre course. The final two boats in each of the 19 categories will race on Sunday 4 July. Last year overseas crews took away a number of the top awards and with 100 crews entered from 19 nations, the trend may continue.

In an almost unprecedented Olympic year move, members of Great Britain’s Olympic squad will be racing. The men’s four ? the Stewards’ Challenge Cup ? Great Britain will go up against either Australia or Cambridge University in the final.

The men’s pair will feature last year’s World bronze medallists, Ramon Di Clemente and Don Cech of South Africa who have raced at the Henley every year since 2000 making it to the final twice, but never winning. They will face the new British combination of Toby Garbett and Richard Dunn.

The men’s eight includes the Dutch Olympic team, the Czech Republic and a strong crew from Harvard University in the United States who come into the event as US collegiate champions. As a warm-up, Harvard recently competed in the Lucerne World Cup finishing a credible sixth in the final against Olympic crews.

Great Britain’s World Cup winning women’s quad will face Ukraine who competed in the final at last year’s Henley and are also Olympic hopefuls.

The Diamond Challenge Sculls for the men’s single will feature last years World silver medallist, Marcel Hacker of Germany as well as a special appearance by Andreas Hajek. Five-time World Champion and Olympic gold medallist, Germany’s Hajek is following his country’s tradition of retiring from rowing by racing at the Henley. Great Britain’s Olympic entry Ian Lawson will also be competing.

For more information go to: www.hrr.co.uk