Race 6: Prince Phillip Challenge Cup: Shiplake College vs Kinross Wolaroi
The opening race of the Australian program on semifinals day delivered a matchup of titanic proportions. The NSW Head of the River champions Kinross against British national champions and local heroes Shiplake. Kinross knew they were up against serious competition in the school that rows just down the road from the Henley Royal Regatta course. The girls from Orange were brave off the start, leading by half a length as they approached the Barrier marker. They held that lead most of the way to the Barrier, but the age, power, and experience of Shiplake was too much as the crews settled into the depths of the race, battling a stiff headwind. In the end, Shiplake took the win by just over two lengths, moving away in the closing stages.
Post race, Headington reportedly thanked Kinross coaches for giving Shiplake such a tough battle.
On a personal note, covering this crew’s progress over the past season has been a pleasure, and I sincerely hope Kinross brings their eight back next year, especially given that most of them have at least a year left.
Race 10: Hambleden Challenge Cup: I. Jurkovic & J. Jurkovic, CRO vs B.R.E. Cox & G.E. Patten, AUS
Cox and Patten were the first of two coxless pair matchups that featured siblings as rivals today, lining up against European Rowing Championships bronze medallists Croatia. The West Australians led early, even breaking clear water in the first half of the race. In conditions reminiscent of those often found at champion lakes in Perth, the Jurkovic’s put the pressure on in the second half of the race, and moved through the Aussies just before the enclosures, ultimately taking the win by two lengths.
Race 16: Princess Royal Challenge Cup: L.P. Gourley, AUS vs F.S. Nielsen, DEN
After a sensational victory yesterday, Laura Gourley faced off against another experienced player, Denmark’s Frida Nielsen. Gourley matched the Dane out of the blocks but ultimately was outclassed, as Neilsen recorded an ‘easily’ verdict.
Race 18: Double Sculls Challenge Cup: N. Van Zandweghe & T. Brys, BEL vs O.A. McGuinness & M.J. Reinhard, AUS
In an all-former-lightweight showdown, the Aussie men’s double of Oscar McGuinness and Mitch Reinhard came up against lightweight veterans Brys and Van Zandweghe. The betting money was on the Belgians, who competed in Paris. The South Australians had no regard for that pedigree, though, getting out of the blocks with pace before breaking clear water at the end of the Island. Their progress was halted slightly when Reinhard caught a violent crab before Fawley. The Belgians saw this and tried to use it to their advantage, but ultimately couldn’t make any inroads on the plucky Australians, who maintained their clear water advantage the whole way down the course, booking their ticket to a finals race against New Zealand tomorrow.
Race 27: Wyfold Challenge Cup: Thames R.C. ‘B’ vs Sydney R.C., AUS
With the elimination of Kinross and Cox & Patten this morning, the sole hope of an Australian crew outside of the national squad making the finals rested on the shoulders of Sydney Rowing Club in The Wyfold Challenge Cup. Lining up against Thames ‘B’, who had a tight race with Molesey yesterday, Sydney took the challenge to the powerhouse Tideway Club, leading narrowly at the end of the Island, but it was the middle of the race where Sydney found a solid rhythm, looking incredibly long and relaxed despite conditions. The race progressed past the enclosures without drama, Sydney booking their finals slot with a margin of four lengths.
Race 28: Silver Goblets & Nickalls’ Challenge Cup: M.T. Salisbury & N.L. Smith, AUS vs R. Rienks & R. Rienks, NED
Salisbury and Smith, the Aussie men’s pair, wowed spectators yesterday as they rowed through the Dutch, which would have been confidence-inspiring knowing they were up against another Dutch combo, this time brothers Rienks & Rienks. Unfortunately, a repeat didn’t seem to be on the cards as the Dutch took a commanding early lead and extended it through the depths of the course. Salisbury and Smith put on a good show through the Enclosures, mounting a late sprint finish; however, there was too much work to do, trailing at the post by one and three-quarters lengths.
Race 33: Grand Challenge Cup: Leander Club & Oxford Brookes Univ vs Rowing Australia, AUS
The most anticipated Regatta matchup was Great Britain against Australia in the semifinals of The Grand Challenge Cup. The draw was kind to us, guaranteeing this matchup rather than leaving it up to the semifinal results for Sunday. Australia, with a strengthened crew that saw the addition of 2025’s undefeated coxless four, seized the advantage in the first few strokes, emerging from the shadows of Temple Island a third of a length ahead. The Aussies slowly eked out their lead over the next kilometre, navigating Great Britain’s home water like they’d been racing here for years. There was a moment where the Brits stole some momentum about 400m from the line, but that was absorbed well for Australia to win by three-quarters of a length.
Race 39: Remenham Challenge Cup: Molesey B.C. & Leander Club vs Rowing Australia, AUS
Just an hour after their men’s victory in The Grand Challenge Cup, the Australian women lined up in the Remenham against Great Britain. The British eight is undefeated this season, and surely weren’t expecting what the Aussies threw at them. The start was slightly delayed due to an umbrella on the course, with both crews seeing the humour in the situation, calm and smiling on the start. Great Britain took the lead early, but only narrowly – the margin holding at a third of a length for roughly 1600m of the course. The Aussies put in a big shift with 500 to go. Watching this one from the launch was incredible, and there was a moment where it felt like Australia had caught the Brits napping. Alas, the home favourites found another gear, drawing on the roars of the enclosure to seize the victory by just two-thirds of a length.
Race 47: Queen Mother Challenge Cup: Team España, ESP vs Rowing Australia, AUS
The final Australian crew of the day, the men’s quad, took to slightly calmer waters in the evening, as the sun made its first appearance of the day. Spain and Australia are yet to face each other in this boat class in 2025, with the Spaniards’ only international result being a sixth place at the European Rowing Championships. Spain started aggressively at 50spm out of the blocks; however, Australia secured better traction and emerged narrowly ahead at the end of the Island. Australia extended that lead throughout the course before breaking free into clear water at the mile marker. Spain had a response and brought the margin back to a length in front of Stewards, but could not reel in the Aussies.
Sunday Preview
Sunday sees four Australian crews take to the water in thrilling displays of the best the land down under has to offer.
In The Double Sculls Challenge Cup, Oscar McGuinness and Mitch Reinhard will face off against an experienced New Zealand duo. The Australians will be hoping to take advantage of the extra races in Finlay Hamill’s legs, as the Kiwi is doubling up in the final of the The Diamond Challenge Sculls after a close race with Olympic Champion Oli Zeidler today.
Sydney Rowing Club will take on London Rowing Club in the final of The Wyfold Challenge Cup, looking to secure their first victory in the event since 2019.
The men’s quad will come up against home favourites Great Britain. This quad have been improving race on race and look to have found some speed on the Thames this week. Expect a good challenge here from the young line-up.
The day’s headline will surely be The Grand Challenge Cup, where Australia will take on the Netherlands in a very evenly matched final. The Dutch set very similar times to each marker in slightly more mellow conditions today, and will provide stiff opposition to the green and gold as they look to reclaim The Grand Challenge Cup for the first time since 2018.
