Henley Royal Regatta 2010
posted by Roy Sinclair - 7 Jul 2010, 6:58 p.m.
Fine weather conditions were experienced at Henley Royal Regatta this year
although on several days, crews had to battle variable to strong headwind
conditions on the famous regatta course on the River Thames.
On Friday in the quarter finals of the Princess Grace Challenge Cup, Imogen
Walsh from Inverness was in the no 2 seat of the London RC/Clyde ARC
composite crew which faced up to the Dutch National crew from Hollandia
Roeiclub. Giving away over two stones per person against their Dutch
opponents, the potential GB lightweights crew pushed the opposition all the
way but lost out by only half a length in the fastest time recorded in that
day's racing in this event which was ultimately won by the GB National crew
stroked by Katherine Grainger.
Also on Friday, Alan Sinclair from the Black Isle was in the bow seat of the
Leander Club's 'A' crew in the Visitor's Challenge Cup
crew which recorded a substantial win over their clubmates in the Leander
'B' coxless four. On Saturday, this crew recorded a fine three
lengths win over a composite crew from Upper Thames RC/Wallingford RC. In the
strong headwind conditions in Sunday's final against another composite
crew from Leander Club/Durham University RC, both crews set off at a high
rating with the composite crew just edging ahead at the quarter mile marker.
The composite crew established a lead of just over a length over the Leander
crew who then pressed hard all the way down the course, encouraged by the huge
vocal support lining the banks of the Thames. Leander closed the margin
slightly at three quarter distance but unfortunately failed to overhaul their
opponents.
Other Scottish crews were also involved at this year's Royal Regatta.
The Logan brothers from Glasgow RC raced in the Silver Goblets and Nickalls
Challenge Cup for coxless pairs on Thursday against the Greek National pair
Tsilis & Tsaninis, showing up well against their heavier opponents but
losing out by a margin of three lengths. Colin Wallace and Scott Purdie of
Deeside Scullers, making their club's debut at this level, also took part
in the same event with their first race on Thursday against the Canadian
international lightweight pair crew of Jensen & Crisan but despite taking
an early lead were overtaken, to eventually go down to an "easily" verdict.
Also on Thursday, Scottish sculling champion James Murphy of Clyde ARC in his
race in the Diamond Challenge Sculls briefly led New Zealand's lightweight
world champion Duncan Grant off the start and put up a good fight for the
first half-mile, but eventually, the New Zealander's superior technique
brought him through to win by three and three-quarter lengths. Jen Read and
Sam Scrimgeour of Glasgow RC also raced on Thursday with Jen racing in a
composite eight with Tideway Scullers School/Sport Imperial BC against the GB
National eight in the Remenham Challenge Cup whilst Sam raced in a quadruple
scull in the Prince of Wales Challenge Cup with Agecroft RC/Durham University
BC against a Durham University BC/Leander Club composite crew. Both crews
raced well against stiff opposition with Sam's crew leading for most of
their race, although both crews were unfortunate not to proceed to the next
round.
Glasgow University BC raced well on Wednesday against Newcastle University BC
in the Princess Albert Challenge Cup for university coxed fours but
couldn't quite match their opponents pace to progress further in this
event. :)