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The immaculate Ron, a Henley regular, is ready for finals day.
11 July 2025
By Tim Koch
Tim Koch captures the premier open events, those international standard races that are technically open to both men and women in line with British Rowing practice.
Some of the glittering prizes that in a short time will be covered in fingerprints, the regatta’s “Official Sparkling Wine” and various body fluids – though hopefully these will be limited to sweat and spittle.The Grand was a convincing one length win by the Australian national crew over the Dutch. The day before they had beaten the British by 2/3 length and Hollandia had beaten Cambridge University by just 1/3 of a length. It was a remarkable effort by CUBC, who were eligible for the Ladies’ Plate, and afterwards they seemed to have no regrets at undertaking the very brave attempt. The Australian crew included the coxless four that had back to back wins in the 2025 Rowing World Cups.Ain’t life Grand?Despite a sudden if brief downpour mid-race, the Croatians had no problem in finishing 1 1/2 lengths up on Canada.The four is a new boat for the remarkable Sinkovic brothers, Martin and Valent (now aged 36 and 37), who were joined by twins, Patrik and Anton Loncaric. The double Olympic Gold winning Sinkovics are arguably the two best rowers in the world and have one previous Henley win, the Silver Goblets in 2018.Umpire Pinsent could not be distracted by donning his waterproofs and stoically endured the rain.
It was easier for the spectators to react quickly to the rainstorm.
Brothers-in-Oar: The Loncarics and the Sinkovics.The GB Men’s Quad, racing as Nottingham RC and Leander Club, put on a great performance to come from behind and beat the Australians by a remarkable 2 1/2 lengths. Picture: Instagram/Row360.Silver service. It was good to see Callum Dixon (left) wearing the Wingfield Sculls medal that he won last year.The Rienks brothers, Ralf and Rik, of Hollandia Roeiclub, a few strokes from their one length victory.Both brothers raced at the Paris Games where Ralf won silver in the eight.The losing Princeton University boat was in fact crewed by two Brits, Marcus Chute and Theo Bell, both of whom have previously won at Henley.Ralf and Rik (or perhaps Rik and Ralf) enjoy their prizes.The New Zealanders no doubt took great pleasure in beating old rivals, Australia, especially as they came from behind after being down at the Barrier and Fawley.Hamill and Mason win by one length.I often wonder why the Double Sculls Challenge Cup is the least imaginatively named trophy in the regatta.Despite Finn Hamill beating World Rowing Cup I and Holland Beker winner, Simon Van Dorp, and then even more spectacularly, Olympic champion Oliver Zeidler in the heats, the Kiwi was unable to defeat Melvin Twellaar of Hollandia even with a rate that hardly dropped below 38. Hamill had won the Double Sculls five hours earlier.Melvin Twellaar won silver in the double at the Tokyo Games.Twellaar finishes one length up.Many sculling greats have won The Diamonds, Twellaar now joins them.Diamonds are forever.By finals day, only two boats for each of the 27 events are left in the boat tents. It’s a rather sad sight.
Next post: Intermediate and Club Open and Women’s events.
Hear The Boat Sing 