International Rowers in Action at Henley

Some of the world’s best rowers made their first appearance at the Henley Royal Regatta in Great Britain yesterday.

Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell enjoyed plenty of home support as they took their first race in the Silver Goblet (men’s coxless pairs) comfortably over Ed Grey and Matt Richardson.

Also in action in the Silver Goblet were the South African pair of Ramon Di Clemente and Donovan Cech and the German pair of Detlef Kirchoff and Robert Sens.

The South Africans beat a Yale University combination by one and a half lengths while the German crew took their race by two and a half lengths over a British club combination.

Olympic champion Ekaterina Karsten had little trouble in the Princess Royal Challenge Cup for the women’s single sculls.

She made short work of beating Zimbabwean lightweight Jill Lancaster, finishing five lengths ahead.

Olympic bronze medallist Katrin Rutschow-Stomporowski also had a smooth run to the next stage of racing, beating a sculler from the Liverpool Victoria Rowing Club.

Coxless four Olympic champion turned single sculler Tim Foster enjoyed some of the success than has eluded him at the Zurich Rowing World Cup this year. He beat Tony Larkham with open water in the Diamond Sculls challenge.

Also winning with open water in the Diamond Sculls were Australian national champion Duncan Free and Candian Olympic sculler Todd Hallet.

Racing at Henley takes place in a knock-out format with two crews meeting one-on-one and the winner progressing to the next stage.

Finals will be held on Sunday.