2 July 2016

After a long lunch, Tim Koch, of Hear The Boat Sing’s London/Henley Bureau, writes:

Friday is the new Saturday at Henley Royal Regatta and, in any case, it has long been the ‘social day’ for my club, Auriol Kensington. The distractions of the club picnic and also of meeting new Hear The Boat Sing contributor Courtney Landers for the first time means that little HTBS work was done and, as a consequence, I expect that I will soon be called in the editor’s office (if he will pay the plane fare). He may have also heard the rumour that I have resorted to copying out press releases such as this:

The Friday of Henley Royal Regatta saw the open categories begin in earnest as the sun began to finally impose itself upon the event. The Grand, Stewards’, Queen Mother, Remenham and Princess Royal Challenge Cups all started on Friday, whilst the club, student and junior events rolled on into the quarter finals. Holland’s, Italy’s and Spain’s men’s eights all saw action whilst selected crews were introduced into the fold in the double and pair events. Meanwhile, a two-minute silence was beautifully observed across the regatta in commemoration of the 100 year anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

As to Saturday, the Regatta Press Office holds that:

Harvard and California, Berkeley face each other in a blockbuster Temple Challenge Cup contest whilst the prospective British U23 women’s eight faces Ivy League Championship winners Princeton University. Domestic interest has been slimmed in the Thames Challenge Cup, with Molesey Boat Club the sole surviving British crew; they face Roeivereeniging Willem III of Holland. The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup pits championship girl’s quad winners Warrington against the dominant force in junior women’s eights, Headington. The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup, which often draws the most ardent crowds along the 2112m stretch, will see strong foreign interest from a powerful Melbourne Grammar School outfit face up against holders St Paul’s School. The top two from the National Schools’ Regatta, Westminster School and Eton College, meet in the other semi-final.

Who am I to argue? I can only add that all the results are on the Henley website and at 1.25 p.m. on Saturday there will be a flypast by a Spitfire and a Hurricane from the Royal Air Force’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

© Photography: Tim Koch