International scene at Henley Regatta

Mixed weather conditions for the five-day event kept audiences and athletes on their toes. As the wind crept up, crashes and breakages helped to determine which crews would progress through to the final.

Over five days of racing, boats going head-to-head, one-on-one, in an elimination-style event. The course, 2112 metres in length, is lined with cement and wood beams that are often the culprit of damaged boats and crushed hopes. Crews must steer carefully down the narrow lanes avoiding, not only the other boat, but the danger of the lane makers themselves. Making it through the elimination rounds and into the Sunday finals is always a great accomplishment. The Sunday finals draw thousands of spectators who don their finest attire. For those belonging to a rowing club, the club blazers are a must, especially if they indicate past successes.

This year’s Sunday final in the men’s and women’s single sculls saw no surprises. Olympic Champions Mirka Knapkova of the Czech Republic and Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand walked away with top honours. Knapkova went up against single sculler Krisztina Gyimes of Hungary, who has spent the last three years competing for the University of Southern California in California, USA. Drysdale faced off with up-and-coming single sculler Roel Braas of the Netherlands. Despite a strong start from the Dutchman, Drysdale’s long and powerful strokes took him into the lead through the finish.

The two Olympic Champions used Henley as part of their summer competition circuit, which saw them race last month at the World Rowing Cup in Aiguebelette and again this coming weekend at the final World Rowing Cup in Lucerne (SUI).

Coming off a first place finish at the European Championships and the World Rowing Cup II, the French lightweight men’s double sculls of Stany Delaryre and Jeremie Azou beat their British open-weight counterparts (John Collins and Jonathan Walton) in a race down to the line.

“There was just a moment in the second half where I thought that maybe we weren’t going to win, as nothing we could do could break them. Then with about 300m to go, I sensed an opportunity. The surge just took us in front and the drama continued right to the finish,” said Azou in British Rowing’s press release.

British combinations took the upper hand in both of the eights races. The women were a combination of Leander and Imperial College, racing against a Dutch crew in the Remenham Challenge Cup. The British national men’s eight, racing in the Grand Challenge Cup, pulled out a win over the French.

Universities from the United States witnessed a successful event, with the University of California, Berkeley winning the Ladies’ Challenge Plate(intermediate men’s eight) and Harvard University winning the Visitors’ Challenge Cup (intermediate men’s four).

For full results: http://www.hrr.co.uk/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA8c7dnH6Ts