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After losing to Hollandia Roeiclub, Netherlands, by one length in the Prince of Wales (Intermediate M4x), the bow pair of the Thames Rowing Club crew feels the pain.
19 July 2023
By Tim Koch
On Day 5 of Henley 2023, Tim Koch tries to keep focus.
On semi-finals Day, Saturday, the number of races almost halves from 81 to 43 (it is a rest day for the Wyfold, the Britannia and the Prince Albert) and all focus on making the finals day on Sunday. The HHR website has all the results and a summary of Saturday’s highlights.
Some Activities Afloat
Oliver Zeidler of Frankfurter Rudergesellschaft Germania 1869. Germany, goes out to meet Jones of Canada in a semi of the Diamonds (Open M1x). The two-time World and European singles champion and winner of the 2019 and 2022 Diamonds won “easily”.St Edward’s School leading Radley College in the Princess Elizabeth (Junior M8+). They won by one length.Oxford Brookes University ‘A’ 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Durham University in the Island (Student W8+).
Princess Grace (Open W4x): Leicester Rowing Club and Leander Club v Delftsche Studenten Roeivereeniging Laga and Amsterdamse Studenten Roeivereeniging Nereus, Netherlands.
The Dutch champions go afloat.The British crew were the GB women’s quad, one of big hopes for the 2024 Paris Olympics. They set a new British record of 6:09.3 at the Varese World Cup two weeks previously, taking second place just 0.5 seconds behind the Olympic and World Champions, China. The British crew won by 3 3/4 lengths.
Diamond Jubilee (Junior W 4x): The Tideway Scullers’ School v Shiplake College “A”.
Tideway Scullers School (a club, not an academic school) lead Shiplake by 1 3/4 lengths at the finish.Scullers showing fine form.Disappointment for a very sharp Shiplake, they won the event in 2021.
Thames Cup (Club M8+): Thames Rowing Club ‘A’ v Sydney Rowing Club, Australia.
Thames are cheered out of the boat tent.The last few strokes to reach the final as Thames lead Sydney home.The official summary read: “Thames ‘A’ made a surprisingly dominant start, pulling out to over a length by halfway. Sydney shifted gear as they entered the enclosures and seemed to have overlap, but Thames responded in fine fashion to close it out and win by 1 ¼ lengths.”
Town Cup (Open W4x): Leander Club v Stanford University, U.S.A.
Leander was the GB development crew.Stanford supporters react as their crew goes (briefly) ahead.Leander winning by 1/2 length. The official summary said that they “produced the upset of the morning by beating a powerful Stanford University crew.”
Princess Grace (Open W4x): Shawnigan Lake School, Canada, v Hollandia Roeiclub, Netherlands.
Shawnigan Lake School lead Hollandia Roeiclub by 2 3/4 lengths.Shawnigan Lake was Canada’s new quad, it was ninth at the Varese World Cup.
On Terra Firma
A Henley security team guarding an entrance to the members’ grandstand. They are not authorised to use lethal force, but they will tut loudly if provoked.Members of Amsterdam student club, Okeanos, pose in their inherited loaned blazers in front of a popular background sited near the Regatta Cafe.Henley Style.Elvis Comeback Special. After several years’ absence, the Elvis impersonators were back, dancing to the boathouse rock.Blazers of two important clubs in the development of British amateur rowing, Westminster School (pink) and Eton College (blue).
Happy Anniversary
Maria Brandin of Sweden rows past the enclosures to mark the 30th Anniversary of her winning the Princess Royal (Open W1x) in 1993 (also in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998). She also won the women’s singles at the 1995 World Championships.Mike Hart (bow) and Chris Baillieu (stroke) won the Double Sculls in 1973 (also in 1975, 1977 and 1978). The double was also victorious in the 1974 British National Championships and the 1977 World Championships, and they won Silver at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.
Out to launch
Presumably the umpire’s launch “Ulysses” is not named after the impenetrable and possibly obscene novel by James Joyce. Most probably, past classically educated Stewards had the hero of Homer’s Odyssey in mind. Lord Tennyson’s poem, Ulysses, has a last line which could be the Henley competitors’ mantra: “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
Hear The Boat Sing 
Enjoyed all the photos, especially of the “security guards”. Who is the umpire in the final photo
Thank you, David. The umpire is Sarah Winckless.
Thank You, I wasn’t sure, but the Commentators usually mention her when she on duty and good to put a face with a name