Henley Royal Regatta, the highlight of the summer season, did not disappoint. 33 Records were smashed and 24 were equalled in the fast conditions. The sun shone brightly all week, many a glass of Pimms No.1 was drunk and Imperial performed spectacularly as most crews were knocked out by winners, finalists or semi finalists. Jamie Kirkwood was IC’s sole representative by finals day and successfully brought home his second consecutive Henley medal in the Visitors’ Challenge Cup.
All Imperial’s men’s crews had pre-qualified for the regatta, thanks to their performances earlier in the season. Training in Henley began in earnest the Saturday before racing and was followed by the Draw and crew weigh-ins. Despite the interference of revision and exams into Henley Week, Wednesday dawned and everyone was set to race.
The Prince Albert Challenge Cup – Student Men’s Coxed Fours.
The four (cox: Libby Richards/Adam Seward/Danny Bellion/Jake Lea-Wilson/Simon Steele) were staying at the legendary Mrs Bush’s, with her 27 years worth of stories about IC Henley crews and incredible cooked breakfasts. They were to race late on the Wednesday and knew a solid challenge lay ahead as their selected opposition, Newcastle University, had shown strong form ever since BUCS Regatta. Off the start, Imperial beat their own record to the Barrier, but Newcastle broke the course record (set by Imperial in 2006) to the same point (1min 57secs). Despite a solid row, they couldn’t quite match the might of the top Blue Star boat, who won by 3 1/4 lengths (7mins 11secs) and eventually made it through to the semi-finals, breaking more records along the way; they lost to the winners and new full course record holders – Harvard University U.S.A.
The Prince of Wales Challenge Cup – Intermediate Men’s Quadruple Sculls
The first PoW race of the regatta was early Thursday morning, with the ICBC quad (bow: Gareth Brown/Paddy Hudson/Alex Gillies/Tim Richards) against the unknown opposition of Eton College and Royal Navy and Royal Marines Amateur Rowing Association. The [almost] lightweight students held on to the Forces all the way to the finish, leading to a mere 1 length verdict (6min 49secs). Even after a fraught lead up, including steering wobbles and domestic arguments, the quad gelled together just in time and had an amazing race to the line.
Also in the PoW was the GB Under 23 quad (bow: Stu Sykes/Zak Lee-Green/Mikey Mottram/Josh Butler) – the boat that Wilf Kimberley will return to for the U23 Worlds in Amsterdam in three weeks time. They beat relatively local rivals Tideway Scullers School B in the first round and went on to face Agecroft RC and Durham University in the quarter finals, one of the closest of the Regatta. The two crews fought it out the whole way down the course with Sport Imperial taking an initial lead. The opposition, however, refused to know when they were beaten and brought it back to level. As both crews crossed the finish line, neither knew who’d won. Eventually the verdict of 2 foot to Agecroft and Durham was announced (6mins 31secs), equalling the course record for the Prince of Wales.
The Temple Challenge Cup – Student Men’s Eights
The selected Imperial student top eight (cox: Henry Fieldman/Wilf Kimberley/Rory Sullivan/Ben Spencer-Jones/Ali Hudson/Matt Whaley/Henry Goodier/Leo Carrington/Hal Bradbury) had a relatively disruptive journey to Henley between field trips, exams and revision but by game time on Wednesday evening, the eight were ready with their new swish all-in-ones. They walked through Exeter University in the first round, for the third year out of four (2 3/4 lengths; 6mins 54secs) and Eton College in the second (1 1/4 lengths; 6mins 43secs), where they were within a second of the Temple barrier record. On the Friday, Imperial were against University of California, Berkeley, U.S.A in the first Temple race of the day, just 15hrs after their battle against Eton. IC stormed out the blocks, matching the standing Temple records to both the Barrier and Fawley. Unfortunately, Berkeley was 3secs faster at both points, setting impressive times, closer to those of the Ladies Plate or Grand than the Temple. Imperial pushed the Americans down the length of the course and proved the months of training were worth it. The final verdict of 2 1/2 lengths went to the Californians in a time of 6mins 17secs. Berkeley went on to win the event on Sunday and equal the new course record (6mins 12secs) set by Harvard University, U.S.A on the Friday.
The Ladies’ Challenge Plate – Intermediate Men’s Eights
ICBC combined with Tees Rowing Club (and Oxford University, and Leander Club) to produce a Ladies’ Plate eight (cox: Connie Pidoux/Ole Tietz/Olaf Beckmann/Ben Rowe/Ben Ellison/Will Todd/Chris Boddy/Bob Hewitt/Sam Scrimgeour). The Imperial German stern pair were pitted against the selected Berliner Ruderclub and Olympische Ruder Club Rostock, Germany [8/9ths of the second senior German international eight] in the quarter finals. The Rolling Stock of Germany were the eventual winners of the event and beat IC’s Ladies’ in a time of 6mins 23secs, verdict 2 1/4 lengths, which nearly equalled the time the top German eight achieved in the Grand a day later. The IC eight were united quite late in the day, as many people used to sculling alone were brought together into a crew boat in just a matter of days, rather than weeks or months. Changes in line-up were initially unfavourable to Henley Winner Will Todd (moved from 6 to 4), but being placed in front of his best buddy, Chris Boddy softened the blow of not being close to the camera [other unnamed sources suggest this was to improve the rhythm, although they weren't the chosen words]. It is rumoured that “ever-ready” Ellison kept his lycra rolled up for five days solid while Connie Pidoux built on the reputation started by the women’s squadron at Henley Women’s Regatta by “curbing” the blades on the booms during one training session and informing the crew it felt “good and chunky”.
The Remenham Challenge Cup – Women’s eights
After their successes at Henley Women’s Regatta, Sport Imperial’s female representatives were back chasing down the booms within the fortnight. Once again, Zoë Lee was stroking the selected GB European eight with teammate Lenny Kennedy back in the boat too, after recovering from injury. The GB U23 eight also returned with SI bowgirl Lottie Howard-Merrill ready to fight it out once more. Both boats made it through their quarter finals (against Vesta RC and Brown University U.S.A respectively) but were knocked out in the semi finals. The European eight lost the eventual winners, Princeton Training Center U.S.A [despite their funky new Imperial visors], while the U23s lost to the Senior International GB eight (and ex-IC member Ro Bradbury).
The Visitors’ Challenge Cup – Intermediate Men’s Coxless Fours
The GB U23 Lightweight four (world champions) had had one change in their line up since winning the Visitors’ in 2010 as Dave Jones was replaced (bow: Jono Clegg/Jon Preston/Will Fletcher/Jamie Kirkwood). Despite the oversight of the Stewards not selecting last year’s winners, the four walked through their first two races against the enormous English Rowing Club, St Petersburg, Russia [in which resided the 17st Russian Minister of Justice – Jamie should be careful if he goes to Moscow for EUSA…], and the veteran crew from London RC and Thames RC. By the time of Jamie’s semi-final on Saturday evening, he was the last Imperial competitor standing. Due to the mishap with the draw, the race that should probably have been the final of the Visitors’, was the semi-final. In a tight race with Oxford Brookes and Molesey BC, Jamie and his fellow lightweights took on the sheer size of their opposition and broke every record along the course (equalled to Barrier, 1sec off both the Fawley and Finish records). With the smallest of leads in front of the enclosures, the wall of sound hit with shouts from everyone. Chants of “I.C. I.C. I. C.” resonated across the grandstand from the Imperial contingent already out of the competition and the boat began to lift. As they left sight, silence descended as people squinted to see time and verdict. They’d done it by 2/3 length in a new record of 6mins 38secs. On Sunday, it was relatively easy to walk away from National University of Ireland, Galway and Gráinne Mhaol Boat Club, Ireland, winning by 3 lengths and giving Jamie his second Henley Medal in two years. The Golden Boy returns.
Banter Report
As crews were knocked out, the celebrations with picnics with Pimms on the bank started, joining in the general merriment of the occasion. One afternoon, a lady was relaxing with her feet up above the barrier of Remenham Club. Adam Seward decided to creep underneath the canvas and relieve the woman of her shoe, much to her shock (and later amusement!) and laughter from the bank. On the same afternoon Tommy “Sugarbags” Hilton was fireman’s lifted over the shoulder and threatened with a dunk in the river. Tommy cried “Not with my phone in my pocket” but on searching his jacket and trousers not only was his phone retrieved but also two[!] hairbrushes. Hairbrush Hilton was then unceremoniously pushed into the river, with a great splash. Further effeminate appearances occurred later that night as Simon Steele returned from the depths of Oxford, arriving at the Catherine Wheel with shirt on and sparkly girl’s top underneath… Perhaps this was the start for the Steele sandwich, or maybe that was a result of Weatherspoons’ finest beverage – “Anthrax”.
Sugarbags was, of course, not the only swimmer of the week. Will Todd and Rozza Sullivan tried a swim on Saturday night but the actual Rozzas ensured it was short lived. Perhaps they had heard stories of Team Kimberley, Leo Carrington and Ben “BUCS Medals” Spencer-Jones from the previous evening who, after a refreshing skinny dip, had a run in with a fully trained attack dog. When they tried to run away, the owner informed the rather compromised lads that, should they move the dog would chase/bite them, thus turning the debacle into a peculiar game of not-so-musical statues. Half an hour later, Leo and Co. met more police as he was first on the scene to a drunken driver traffic accident, hauling the driver out to safety [Note: despite having drunk a bottle of Pimms, Imperial students were not behind the wheel of the car, and no ICBC rowers were hurt; the same can’t be said for the car…].
By the alumni “barbecue” at Saturday Tea Break, all were very grateful for the multitude of cakes, sandwiches and nibbles on offer. With old [and young] boys and girls resplendent in their blazers, enjoying the spread and relaxing on bean bags. A lovely afternoon was had by all and the club looks forward to seeing everyone again at the Annual Boat Club Dinner in the autumn.
Special mentions for this year’s Regatta must go to Kat “The Beast” Holloway, who took control of the airways as she joined the Regatta Radio commentary team and successfully talked up ICBC at every possible opportunity. Coach Neil West and son, Stuart, should also be congratulated for getting to the quarter finals of the Silver Goblets and Nickalls’ Challenge Cup, only to be beaten by Pete Reed and Andy Triggs-Hodge. The GB pair broke Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent’s 1995 Barrier record in the race (umpired by Pinsent with Redgrave timing at the marker!) but still only beat West and West by 1 1/4 lengths [Shouts of “Go on Neil, go now. You can still win” coming through the enclosures may have been optimistic].
Over the week, ICBC got to know each other better, became well acquainted with new and old friends/rivals and found a new home on the Buckinghamshire station [as every ICBC crew and Jamie’s Visitors’ boat only raced on Bucks!]. Congratulations to the entire ICBC Squad for an immensely successful year. May next season and the road to Henley 2012 be even more victorious. In the meantime, enjoy the summer.
Libby Richards