Henley Women’s Regatta (HWR) 2009: Duffy Wins Henley. The pinnacle of a season’s training was over in less than 5 strokes for the women’s student academic four (Christina Duffy/Selina Graham/Chloe Symmonds/Julia Hong cox: Kate Wylie) when the crew steered directly into Salford University Rowing Club in the opening round and were disqualified. The stunned crew made their way down the course in shock as dreams of becoming as mighty as 2007 Henley Winner Will Todd were smashed before their very eyes. It was a weekend to forget with all crews unable to get past the opening round (or Temple Island for the 4+), although the elite 4x did IC proud with very little between all crews in their category.

Photo by Nick Ablitt

It was thought that everything on the course had been hit the previous night at Henley during the W4+ pre-race paddle and confidence was high for IC’s entry into HWRB (Henley Women’s Regatta Bumps). But the crew were thrown by the sight of a new obstacle on the course on Friday afternoon: a boat from Salford. This transpired to be a moving obstacle, inconveniently starting at the same time as the IC 4+ making it a little trickier to accurately joust. Time was of the essence and it was with sheer determination and focus that the crew had blade overlap within 10 seconds of the wind-up for pace. Still on build-up-adrenalin early catches were speared into anything vaguely resembling water, such as a fleshy pink material which was found in four of the seats of Salford’s boat. Both boats came to a halt as the umpiring launch approached the Imperial crew: “I think you know what’s coming...” The IC crew awaited their high fives. “Imperial College you are disqualified for impeding another crew.” That was a crew?!

The IC four sat catching flies before painfully paddling down the course in front of the crowds spectating the death row. Photographers could not believe their luck and zoomed in for shots displaying anger, tears, drama and emotion; incapsulating the HWR experience. Amazingly Stroke Duffy managed to keep both hands on her handles and resist finger motions to the following umpire launch. Loyal fans awaiting along the bank pondered whether to cheer or not to cheer. Ro Smith eventually opted for a very appreciated “We love you IC!” We love you too.

“These things happen” were the consoling words of Head Coach Steve Trapmore as the bleary-eyed W4+ crew made their way back to the trailer in disbelief. Trapmore related tales of similar misfortune back in his day, some eons ago, from which we can only conclude that the 4+ are destined for Olympic gold. Seat three Selina Graham claimed “I’m never rowing again” as she exited the boat but sources reveal she was recently spotted in a single on the tideway since the trauma. Seat two Chloe Symmonds continues her end-of-year exams, one of which she sat before the race at Henley. Officer Duffy has decided to fully commit to “Operation Get Stacked” while bow girl Julia Hong has not been seen since. We wish them the best. Godspeed.

The S4x (Christina Matteotti/Stef Menashe/Clarice Chung/Alice Smitheman) competed in the senior quadruple sculls for The Chairman’s Cup and received a buy in the first round. They faced Clydesdale ARC in the first race and were defeated by 3 ½ lengths in 5:27. The Scots went on to be beaten by eventual winners Reading University BC A who overcame Cambridge UWBC, Rob Roy in the final in 5:04 by 1/3 length. However there was consolation for seat three Stef Menashe who was deemed overall winner of the brownie making competition with Clarice Chung also claiming silverware for her peanut butter bread (which is not to be confused with Christina Matteotti's banana bread; although such an error is completely understandable).

German elite lightweight sculler Franca Meyrick-Tasch (only recently returned to training) was set the daunting task of entering the elite lightweight single sculls. Tasch was beaten in the first round by by KSRV Njord, The Netherlands in 6.22. The eventual winner was Yarm School, Copeland over Queen’s University Belfast in 5.56 by 2 ¾ lengths.

It was always going to be a battle for the elite 4x (Rachael Davies/Nicky Smith/Ro Smith/Erica Thompson) with just four entrants (Imperial College BC/Mortlake Anglican & Alpha BC/Old Collegians BC/University of London WBC). No race was won by more than 1/3 of a length and the three races had finishing times of 5:05, 5.04 and 5.04. IC missed reaching the final by just 3 foot to Mortlake in a race mirroring last year’s devastating final defeat. Despite the crew’s solid performance and Olympic grade steering line, it was MET quadruple scull champions University of London who claimed The Bourne Cup over Mortlake by 1/3 of a length.

IC’s Rachael Davies, Erica Thompson and Ro Smith will compete in a composite elite 8+ with Tideway Scullers in Henley Royal qualifiers this Friday, coxed by IC’s Connie Pidoux. Best of luck to all IC crew’s aiming to qualify.

 

Christina Duffy