Royal visitor at the BearingPoint Rowing World Cup

Sir Steven Redgrave and HRH The Princess Royal

HRH The Princess Royal spent two hours at Dorney Lake on Friday morning talking to competitors, organisers and volunteers at the BearingPoint Rowing World Cup and went away ?very impressed’ by what she had seen.

?Obviously the Princess Royal has been to many rowing venues in her time,? said Sir Steve Redgrave, the five-times Olympic gold medallist who accompanied the Princess Royal on her tour. 

?I remember her in Seoul in 1988, watching our final and presenting the medals, so it’s not new to her. But Dorney is close for her; she’s flown over it lots of times and seen it developing. She’s very impressed and really pleased that there are international events here.

?As someone who has competed at the highest level in her own sport, there’s obviously a rapport with other athletes, and she spent quite a lot of time talking to some of the British competitors.?

During her tour, the Princess Royal, who is a member of the International Olympic Committee, met stake boat boys and start judges, walked through the team camps and watched a race from Dorney Lake’s new finish tower.

?The Princess Royal is the Patron of the 2006 World Rowing Championships, which will be held here, so she’s here as a member of the family, if you like, to see how it’s being run and put together,? said Iain Reed, a member of the World Cup organising committee.

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