The 160th Henley Royal Regatta will be remembered for its very hot and humid weather conditions and thundery showers. Such were the temperature conditions, around 90ºF, that the Stewards allowed "jackets but not ties" to be removed on the first two days - a relaxation in men's sartorial dress not allowed since 1976. The appearance of more international rowers, many of whom had competed in the 2008 Olympics, added to the general interest. Little or no stream and favourable following winds provided fast conditions during the early days of racing but by the weekend trickier cross to head winds prevailed which slowed overall times.
This year seven Old Abingdonians representing six clubs took part in five events. Two members competed in The Ladies' Challenge Plate. R T Bucke (OA 2007) and M E T Rossiter (OA 2008) were selected to row in the GB under 23 eight this year. This crew, a Leander and Molesey composite, beat a seeded Downing College, Cambridge, and City of Cambridge Rowing Club composite convincingly by 4 lengths in 6.42 on the Thursday.
On the Friday Leander and Molesey raced the seeded US Brown University B crew who had a mishap soon after the Island and had to restart. By this stage Leander and Molesey had established a good lead, which they had increased by the finish, reached in 6.46. The umpires decreed the race not rowed out and no distance was given.
On the Saturday Leander and Molesey faced yet another seeded composite; namely Brown University Alumni and New York Athletic Club who they beat by 1 length in 6.41. This win put Leander and Molesey into the final which they narrowly lost by ½ lengths to seeded Brown University USA A crew in the fast time of 6.28 after a very close contest.
F W A Raftery (OA 2008) competed for The Visitors' Challenge Cup in an Oxford Brookes University crew but lost to the seeded Newcastle University and Dukla Praha, Czech Republic, composite by 2 lengths.
Two OAs competed for The Thames Challenge Cup. In the first round I P D Priest (OA 1997) stroking the Combined Services lost to Vesta Rowing Club by 1½ lengths while T R Betteridge (OA 2000), stroking Grosvenor Rowing Club, lost to a strong Molesey Boat Club A, the eventual event winners, by 2¼ lengths.
In The Temple Challenge Cup, N K Turnbull (OA 2005), rowing in the engine-room of the Manchester University eight, beat the seeded Erasmus University, Holland, in a thrilling sprint along the Enclosures by 1 length in 6.31 having been led for most of the course. On the following day Manchester went out to a heavier Oxford Brookes crew by 1¼ lengths.
The Diamond Challenge Sculls contained a galaxy of 2008 Olympic talent so that it was extremely commendable that lightweight W P J Hoodless (OA 1994) of Upper Thames Rowing Club qualified once more for this prestigious and demanding event. William was up against A W Campbell, The Tideways Scullers School, an Olympic finalist, a former Diamonds winner in 2007, and the Banyoles World Cup winner this year. Campbell sculling on the Berks station beat his ever determined 11st 5lb opponent who was giving away some 4 stones in weight, by 1¼ lengths, having at an earlier phase of the race a 5 length lead when establishing a new Barrier record of 2.04. It was pleasing to see William maintaining good form right up to the finish. Campbell went on to lose the final to the Olympian M Drysdale of New Zealand after a close race.
Thirty-nine crews started for The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup. Of these, 32 qualified including 4 overseas crews all from the United States; namely Brunswick School, Gonzaga College High School, Belmont Hill School (winners of First and Second Fours in the New England Championships), and Tabor Academy. There were 8 seeded crews: Radley College, Gonzaga College High School, Belmont Hill School and Abingdon in the top half of the draw and Eton College, The King's School Chester, Pangbourne College and Shrewsbury School in the lower half.
The Abingdon First Boat arrived at Henley weighing in at 12st 12lbs, the same as last year. Previously, in the Schools' Head, Abingdon were placed fourth behind Eton, Shrewsbury and St Paul's. Later at the National Schools' Regatta in the Championship Eights they came second to Eton (by 17 seconds). This crew then split up into fours, with the coxless boat finishing third and the coxed boat fourth; in both groups Eton were the winners. A sign of things to come!
On the first day of the Regatta, Abingdon on Bucks, dispatched St Georges College by 4½ lengths having taken a comfortable lead before the Barrier 1.53. Rowing at a steady rating of 32, by Fawley (3.12) they had a 3½-length advantage. The rating came down even lower by the Enclosures and Abingdon finished in a time of 6.48. A good economical performance.
On the Thursday, once more on Bucks, Abingdon had another rhythmical row against Durham School. Rating 35 they had established a 2½-length lead at the Barrier (1.53), extending to 2½ lengths by Fawley (3.12). The rating was then reduced to 28 and the boat drew out to 5 lengths by the finish reached in 6.45. By the Friday two of the seeds had been eliminated. A good Latymer School crew surprisingly took a length off Radley early on which they maintained to the finish, and Brunswick School, USA, beat Gonzaga College, USA, by 1¼ lengths.
Abingdon's race against the seeded American Belmont Hill School was an epic. Belmont over-rating Abingdon had taken a length by the Barrier (1.52), which they held to beyond Fawley (3.11). Abingdon, seemingly unperturbed and rowing with maturity and good length started to haul back their heavier opponents; both crews raised their ratings to 38 and then to 40. By the Enclosures Abingdon were on terms and to the roars of spectators drew away to win a splendid contest by ¾ of a length in the fast time of 6.34.
Abingdon's semi-final against Brunswick School was confidently executed. By the end of the Island Brunswick on Berks rating 44 to Abingdon's 40 had taken a canvas. Abingdon settling to a rating of 35 to Brunwick's 37 had reversed this by the Barrier (2.00) and by Fawley (3.24) had increased their lead to ½ a length. By Remenham, Abingdon had extended this to 1 length, now at 34, and by the Mile to 2 lengths. This was further increased to 2½ lengths by the finish in a time of 7.08. Meanwhile, Eton had dispatched Pangbourne effortlessly by 5 lengths in 6.59.
The final on the Sunday was perhaps entirely predictable as Eton had the finest crew in their long and successful history and had proceeded serenely through all their races during the season and through this regatta. For this race, Abingdon were on the Berks station for the first time during the week. Eton starting at a rating of 40 to Abingdon's 38 had taken a canvas by the end of the Island and ½ length by the ¼ mile. At the Barrier (1.53) slightly under-rating Abingdon at 36 to 37, Eton had ¾ of a length. Continuing to Fawley (3.12), both crews at 36, Eton had extended their lead to 3 lengths. By this stage, Eton cruising sedately at 34 gradually extended their lead to 5 lengths at the finish reached in 6.42. So ended a valiant effort by a well-coached Abingdon crew to hold a very talented Eton boat. In the opinion of your correspondent the Abingdon crew was technically one of the best produced by the ASBC in recent years and it is good to know that four members of this combination will still be available next season.
Over the regatta period a good number of OAs representing six decades were seen in the Stewards and Boat Tent areas. M D W Schofield (OA 1987) continues to use his management skills with the Army Rowing Club and R T Richmond (OA 1990) has been part of the London Rowing Club's coaching team. Congratulations to David Tanner (OA 1966) on the award of a CBE for his efforts with the GB team in the last Olympics. He remains as International Manager of the Amateur Rowing Association, which from September, will be known as British Rowing Limited.
W G Potter (Common Room 1955-1992 and Rowing Coach 1955-1994)
