The Prince Albert Challenge Cup – Edinburgh University v University of London ‘A’
We reach the final day of what has proved to be one of the most compelling events of the regatta, with the last two crews standing: Edinburgh University, racing on the Berkshire station, and the University of London, racing on Buckinghamshire. Athletes in both crews had a wealth of Henley experience coming into this year (a collective 14 Henleys between the five athletes in the Edinburgh crew, against a collective 17 in the University of London), and everyone was desperate for this to be their year to collect a coveted red box. Both crews got out cleanly off the start, but it was Edinburgh who stole a march on the boys in purple, walking out to a half-length lead at the quarter mile, and a full length at the Barrier. If this was your first time watching these crews this week, you’d have been forgiven for thinking it was over for the University of London. But, as they have shown they’re capable of race after race, they came back. Inching back to a half-length deficit by Fawley, they then made a concerted attack at the three-quarter mile marker, and coming past Remenham Club, they took the lead. Having been rowed down, the mental battle for Edinburgh to stay in the race must have been tough, but credit to them, they kept pushing the entire way. But the University of London had snatched the momentum, and coming into the mile and an eighth mark, they’d converted a length deficit to a length advantage. Coming past the bandstand to rapturous cheers, the University of London were able to enjoy their final few strokes before crossing the line to enthusiastic celebrations. A brilliant final showcasing the best of student rowing, but ultimately, event favourites UL could not be overturned. They round out their season as winners of the BUCS Regatta, Metropolitan Regatta, Marlow Regatta, and now Henley – an impressive dominance that reflects an equally impressive crew.
The Temple Challenge Cup – Harvard University ‘A’ v Oxford Brookes University ‘A’
As the only event left for this Harvard lightweight crew to conquer, the Crimson were hungry at the stakeboats for glory on the Berkshire station, and Brookes took Buckinghamshire. Aware that times to the barrier and Fawley were similar, each athlete knew a strong start would be needed to gain an early advantage. At the end of the Island, neither crew was willing to concede, and the crews were stroke for stroke to remain level. Settling into their race rhythm, Harvard emerged as the likely victor of this contest, drawing three feet ahead of Brookes. This continued, and Harvard pulled away to three-quarters of a length at the half mile. Getting closer to the enclosures, the Brookes boys appeared to put in a move to get back into the race, but this was no match for the fluid, lightweight rhythm. The Harvard lightweights will lift The Temple Challenge Cup for the first time since 2009 by a margin of three-quarters of a length and, in the process.
The Island Challenge Cup – Newcastle University ‘A’ v Rutgers University ‘A’
Heading into this event, the Newcastle women were all too familiar with the feeling of losing a Henley final and did not want to repeat it this year. Meanwhile, the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers have stormed through the Regatta, relished the duel racing format, and perhaps wondered if they would face some closer competition today. Rutgers took the Berkshire station with Newcastle University, which was on Buckinghamshire. Very aggressive starts from both crews saw them rating 48 off the stakeboats, which allowed Newcastle to see a very early advantage; however, this did not last for long. By the Barrier, Rutgers repeated what they had been doing for the rest of their Henley campaign and had stretched out to take a lead of one length. Despite Newcastle’s best efforts not to relive last year’s finals day experience, staying above 40 strokes per minute for much of the race, the brute force in the Rutgers crew was overwhelmingly faster, and they stretched out to cross the line with a massive three-length lead. Not only will this crew be lifting The Island Challenge Cup, but they also broke the course record by eight seconds. This will pose some serious questions for the top UK university programmes, as none of them could touch this incredible American crew.
