Super fast conditions at Head of the Charles

Appearances by top clubs, colleges, national teams and the crowd-favourite ‘Great Eights’, comprising of some of the best rowers in the world together in one boat, made for brilliant racing. Records were smashed in a number of events as rowers enjoyed weather conditions on the Charles River.

A highlight of the weekend was the women’s Great Eight made up of under-23 World Champion Ieva Adomaviciute (Lithuania), World Champion Jeannine Gmelin (Switzerland), Olympic medallists Gevvie Stone and Felice Mueller (United States), Olympian Sanita Puspere (Ireland), Lisa Scheenaard (Netherlands), Olympic Champion Annekatrin Thiele (Germany), Olympian Carling Zeeman (Canada) and coxswain Erin Driscoll (USA). They dominated the championship women’s eight race and established a new course record of 14:48, ahead of the United States training centre crew (15:00) and Washington University (15:03).

“This year was definitely one of my favourite Head of the Charles races of all time,” said Driscoll. “The weather was incredible. The combination of wind and warm water allowed us to smash the course record. It was really special to have such amazing competition in the US and Canadian teams pushing us from behind, while some very tough college rowers from Brown and Yale challenged us from in front.”

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The men’s Great Eight, with a line-up of mainly single scullers, John Graves (United States), Olympian Robbie Manson (New Zealand), Olympic medallist Damir Martin  (Croatia), Olympian Conlin McCabe (Canada), under-23 World Champion Tim Ole Naske (Germany), Sverri Nielsen (Denmark), Olympic medallist Paul O’Donovan (Ireland), World Cup winner Nico Stahlberg (Switzerland) and Olympic coxswain Peter Wiersum (Netherlands), also broke the course record with a time of 13:30, but they were outperformed by University of California Berkley (13:27) to finish second with Yale University in third.  

“We had a good few days training, and a great race today,” said Wiersum. “Obviously we’re disappointed we didn’t win, but it was a fantastic trip and we enjoyed our time together as a crew.”

Stroked by Joachim Sutton of Denmark, the California crew had an international feel with Maarten Hurkmans (Netherlands), Jack Gosden-Kae (Great Britain), Natan Wegrzycki-Szymczyk (Poland), Ferdinand Querfeld, Rudolph Querfeld, Christoph Seidfredsberger (Austria), Martin MacKovic (Serbia) and American coxswain John Amorosana.

 “The guys had a good row,” commented Cal head coach, Mike Teti, “but the competition is severe and we expect close races all season.”

Sometimes the Head of the Charles is considered the coxswain’s race as it takes a deft hand to manoeuver the Charles’ many twists and turns and bridges. “It is the greatest coxswains race in the world,” said former USA-cox-turned Washington University women’s head coach, Yaz Farooq, who presents her course tricks and tips at an annual pre-regatta coxswain’s clinic.

“It’s famous for its serpentine course (and) seven bridges (including a 90° turn and a 75° turn). You’re trying to push your crew to the limit while navigating the course, avoiding collisions and dodging bridge abutments all at once. There is nothing else like it.”

“The course is incredibly fun from a coxswain’s perspective,” added Driscoll. “You can truly make or break your boat’s race depending on the decisions you make.”

Coxing the Great Eight meant bringing together different techniques and nationalities in a short space of time. This is something Wiersum has taken in his stride as he has coxed the Great Eight before. “You’ve only got a few days to pull it all together and the level of competition is incredibly high,” said Wiersum. Yet, the athletes are the real focus, added Wiersum who cautioned against over-stating his role: “At the end of the day it is the guys who are going to row down the course.”

For Driscoll, it’s a similar story, “I am still awed every year when I jump in the boat with Olympic and World medalists. These women are some of the strongest, funniest, nicest people I have ever met and it is truly an honour to cox them.”

Full results here.