Henley Rowing Club had six crews compete at Henley Women’s Regatta (2nd – 4th July). The five junior crews all made it through the time trials to compete in the side by side racing. The Women’s double of Penny Hammand and Rebecca Abbott where in that unfortunate position of being fastest non qualifier by 0.3 of a second.
The JW 8+ of Georgie Pollard, Ellie Harkin, Jasmine Stockdale, Freya Engel, Sophie Underwood, Ailish Harkin, Natalie Schoenmakers, Lucy Jones and cox Caitlin Emery were one of the fastest qualifiers earning them a bye through to Sundays racing were they beat Putney High School in the quarter final. In the semi final they beat the National Schools Champions Lady Eleanor Holles School, but in the final a resurgent Headington School proved just that little bit quicker to leave the Henley girls as losing finalists.
The WJ 4+ Ella McKay, Tess Lewis, Evie Tingate, Blair Fitzgerald were hoping to repeat their National School win but COVID disrupted their build up to the regatta with Sophie Eltze stepping in as cox on the race morning with two previous coxes having to isolate. They had a comfortable victory over Lady Eleanor Holles but couldn’t overcome Tideway Scullers School in the quarter final.
In the JW 4x of Josie Sawbridge, Nonnie Luke, Laoise O’Donohue and Holly Cookson had a good first round victory over Wycliffe Junior Rowing Club but in the quarter final were up against a very good Shiplake College quad who went on to win the event.
In the JW16 age group the 4x of Eyla Wild, Hannah Boddy, Sophie Graham and Yasmin Lakatos lost to Tideway Scullers in the quarter final. The 4+ of Amelia Sterjo, Karima Erbolat, Lauren Stokes, Abbie Artherton andcox Matilda Ley got off to a poor start in their quarter final heat against Yarm School and were very quickly two lengths down and having to play catch up which they nearly did losing by just 3 feet.
Although there were no wins for HRC this year, it was great to see quality racing returning to the Henley stretch.
