Friend and Geffen strike Gold at Nat Champs

After suffering disappointment at the gruelling GB final trials where
Nick Friend (PBS), Will Geffen (MGHM) and Denis Zaboronsky (NCWS) just
missed out on places at the Coupe, Will and Nick stayed on in
Nottingham to try their luck in the Junior Coxless Pairs event in the
National Rowing Championships last weekend. Despite fatigue and the
lack of time to prepare the pair came together well under the guidance
of HGCC. On Saturday the pair sailed through their eliminator
comfortably while at the same time recording the fastest times to both
the 1000m and 1500m marks. However, last year a pair of Will and Ben
De Jäger (Coll) performed a similar feet in their eliminator and yet
only managed fourth in the final. Fortunately it was a different story
this time round with Nick and Will winning Sunday's final by an
impressive margin of 9 seconds. The pair now go on to represent
England in the Home Nations Championships in Cardiff this weekend.

GB/France Match

On Sunday 15 July the coxless four of James Goble (NCWS), Lucas King (PGW), Freddie Fisher (TEJN) and Charlie Thurston (GRP) raced for Great Britain in the Great Britain versus France Match in Gravelines, France. Having spent three days training on the river in Kingston, they arrived in France last Thursday for three further days of training on the course in Gravelines which next year will host the World University Championships. Having won the trials by 13 seconds much was expected of the boys and in the first half of the race on Sunday all looked as though it was going according to plan as they established a commanding two length lead. However, the French refused to accept that they were beaten and put in a monumental push that brought them back to within a length with 250m to go. The French then began their charge for the line and even though our boys raised their rate of striking to well over 40 the French continued to gain. Spectators' hearts were in their mouths as both crews appeared to cross the line level. A hush descended on the crowd as it waited for the result to be announced. When it finally came - Great Britain by a foot – there was relief and jubilation. The closest race of the day had sealed victory for Team GB in the boys' match (4-3) and contributed to an 8-5 win in the match overall.

Henley round-up

The VIII bowed out of Henley on Friday to Scotch College, Australia.  It was a keenly fought race, in which Scotch's tactics were always going to be clear.  They have a more or less flat out charge to the Barrier and then look to maintain that advantage over the rest of the course.  So, in that early part of the race they established a lead of a little over a length, which The VIII reduced to half a length coming into the Enclosures.  Into a really very stiff headwind and a continuing strong stream this was a considerable effort, and though Scotch pulled away a bit more in the closing stages, the boys were pleased with the way they had rowed; this was a fitting way to go out in what had been a good Henley week.

On Saturday Abingdon, as widely predicted, saw off Scotch.  After containing their early charge (giving a way a lead of a canvas or so) they rowed through to win by clear water.  The more nail-biting race was Hampton against Radley.  Hampton took an early lead of nearly a length, but were rowed through by Radley who continued to pull away through the Enclosures.  Radley always pick up speed between NSR and Henley and today's final should be a great race.  The form book would favour Abingdon, but Radley could well pull it off.  With a host of foreign crews here this year, the excellent standard of domestic rowing really has come through.  We were less than a length from having all England semis, never mind an all England final.

OE interest today will centre on the Ladies', where Caspar Jopling will row for Harvard against Mike Evans of Leander, guaranteeing a Henley medal for one OE.

With four ECBC crews at the regatta, The VIII performing to its full potential and enjoying the week, a strong Eton Vikings crew racing (unluckily meeting a crew which I think will win the Brit in the first round), and OEs again in finals, this has been an excellent Henley for the club as a whole.