CITY OF BRISTOL’S Henley experience lasted less than a minute in the Wyfold Challenge Cup coxless fours against Henley at the Royal Regatta yesterday when their steering caused disqualification after 22 strokes.
That figure was also relevant to the Army in the same event as it was their leisurely finishing rate per minute when they beat Hereford. The Army have sentimental support at Henley, having lost in the final for the past two years. Andrew Seddon is the only new rower since 2004, replacing Charles Foinette, who is in Iraq but will arrive on Saturday to watch his colleagues. Nigel Weare, the Army coach, seems confident that they will still be in the frame, his main concern being Thames, who won on the other side of the draw.
A number of “selected” crews failed to survive the first day, one early exit coming for Frankfurt, beaten by Garda, of Ireland, in the Thames Challenge Cup eights despite the presence of the Germans’ 18st 9lb man rowing at No 4.
St Joseph’s Preparatory School, from Philadelphia in the United States, looked likely lads in the top half of the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup eights with a young crew, two only 15, whose greatest threat in their first race seemed to be the umpire, who warned them continually for the first two minutes. Eton and Abingdon showed their expected pedigree in the bottom half.
California University produced eye-catching speed in the Temple Challenge Cup student eights, opening a four-length lead over Warwick University in some 60 strokes that they stretched to “easily” by the finish.
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The wind was variable and more of a handicap after lunch, when an unselected Dutch crew, Okeanos, had to equal the record in the student coxed fours to beat Harvard.