Henley Royal Regatta 2009: The Henry Fieldman Express was sold a return ticket to the Henley Final of the Ladies’ Challenge Plate when Brown University ‘A’, USA defeated the GB U23 crew (racing as Leander Club & Molesey) by ½ length. Revenge was sweet for the Americans as the GB crew, coxed by IC’s Fieldman, had already defeated Brown Univ. ‘B’ and a Brown Alumni composite crew in earlier rounds.
Fieldman had competed earlier in the week coxing IC1 8+ in the Temple Challenge Cup. The crew (Alex Gillies, Tom Arnott, Henry Goodier, Leo Carrington, Josh Yerrell, Adam Seward, Gareth Brown, Danny Bellion) comfortably qualified the previous Friday and faced Exeter University in the opening round. IC won by 2/3 length in 6:42 setting them up for a tough race against Melbourne University the following day. The Australians overcame the IC crew by a single length in 6:37, an especially hurtful encounter for seat 7 Aussie Bruce Arnott who was ready to spit the dummy after being stonkered in the race. After a quick shower Bruce was as dry as a Pommy’s towel and calmed down after a cut lunch with his father, The Croc. POD was also honoured to meet The Croc in person. Strewth that Croc is a bonzer bloke!
The other pencil-pushing student crew (Cox: Libby Richards/Tom Bell/Richard Winchester/Iain Palmer/Andy Gordon) raced for the Prince Albert Challenge Cup (M4+ which IC won in 2006). The crew were drawn against Reading University ‘B’ on Wednesday and had a solid finish winning by 2 ¾ lengths in 7:15. After a rest day the IC crew battled hard on Friday against Yale University, USA, but could not come back after Yale took the lead from the start. Yale won by 2 ½ lengths in 7:23. Yale eventually reached the final but fell to the stronger Oxford Brookes crew who took the win ‘Easily” in 7:38 on Sunday.
IC’s Will Todd was paired with former club mate Wilkinson in the Silver Goblets and Nickalls’ Challenge Cup (Open 2-) and faced a tough field littered with Olympians. The crew were pre-qualified placing them in the top 10 pairs in the country; most likely due to Todd’s former Henley glory. Sadly they crashed out in the opening round and were ‘Easily’ defeated by the Australian pair of Alfred & Buckland. As the race was late in the evening IC supporters were well tanked with Pimms by the time the pair went past. ‘Creative’ cheers spurred the crew on and Todd is believed to have smiled (unless it was a grimace, or some kind of facial spasm, but there was definite acknowledgment of the IC fans). Disappointingly GB heart-throbs Andy Triggs Hodge & Pete Reed failed to make it to the final despite being technically superior, both in and out of the boat.
He may have left IC years ago but we’ll still cling to the glory generated by Bill Mason. The Westminster superquad handled the pressure of expectation well after a solid and dominating season. The quad reached the final with little trouble and defeated Melbourne Grammer School by 2/3 length claiming the Fawley Challenge Cup (Junior M4x). There was also success for Ro Bradbury (previous Henley winner for IC & this year’s senior W4x silver medallist at the 2nd Rowing World Cup) who won outright over Waiariki R.C. 'A', New Zealand by 3 lengths racing as Leander Club & Westminster School (GB 4x), winning the Princess Grace Challenge Cup (W4x) .
Three IC crews were unfortunate to not make the qualification cut for HRR (M8+, W8+ and M4-). The M4- and W8+ were both fastest non-qualifiers and very unlucky not to proceed. Well done to all IC club members for surviving the season. Informal training continues for those competing at Nat Champs, or for those who are just generally obsessed with training. For everyone else; enjoy the break!
Christina Duffy
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it