Henley masters crews shine at Town and Visitors’ Regatta

Henley Rowing Club’s masters secured three victories and a second-place finish across four finals and nine thrilling races.

The masters D quadruple sculls crew of Mark Gray, Matt Peachey, Ken Fitzgibbon and Shaun Paice snatched a semi-final victory by just one foot against Fairlop RC before going on to comfortably win the final by two lengths against Quintin BC.

The men’s E quadruple sculls crew of Andrew Garnett, Will Edmondson, Andrew Grant and Mike Hornsby also impressed, finishing second ahead of Quintin BC, but were beaten by a strong Maidenhead crew in their semi-final.

David Brown and Mike Hornsby defeated Thames Tradesmen’s RC in the masters G double sculls semi-final. In the final against an experienced Guildford RC masters I crew, who benefited from a 21-second handicap at the start, they finished second by four-and-a-half lengths.

Peachey was back on the water in the afternoon, partnering with Jan Wildenhain in the masters D double sculls. Overcoming a poor start in their semi-final, they quickly found their rhythm for a comfortable win against Upton RC and Fulham Reach RC. The final saw them face a familiar Fairlop RC, whose crew included two rowers from the earlier nail-biting masters D quadruple sculls race. After 300m, the race was tight, but Henley surged ahead, lengthening their stroke to claim a commanding five-length win.

The Henley women’s masters E quadruple sculls crew of Rachel Galbraith, Jo Carey, Nicole Peachey and Aiofe Scott had a straight final. Despite being impeded by erratic steering from Marlow RC, they rowed well, though the race was ultimately won by a fast Maidenhead crew.

The women’s masters F quadruple crew of Judy Walker, Miriam O’Leary, Jo Paice and Elizabeth Thomazeau delivered an impressive win in their straight final. A fast start gave them a one-length lead, maintained with good steering by Thomazeau, which they held for the entire course, securing another win by one-and-a-half lengths.

Elsewhere, Henley’s O Rowley finished second in the final of the J15 single sculls, with a sculler from Hereford Rowing Club winning by one-quarter of a length.