Club 8 wins Henley Women's Regatta
Henley Women's Regatta 2019 culiminated on Sunday with a fabulous win for Thames in Aspirational Club 8+s, capping a successful weekend.
A total of 12 Thames crews raced in the time trials on Saturday, with all but two single scullers then going on to the side-by-side racing - a total of 45 athletes, more than any other club.
Aspirational Club 8+
Thames A: Natalie Kernan (cox), Ruth Taylor, Hannah Laird, Christina Schneider, Caterina Buizza, Ellie Morris, Lucy Nee, Sarah Fabes, Josie Phillipps
Thames B: Ariela Sabah (cox), Louisa Currey, Ellie Higginbotham, Angela Hitchens, Heather Walker, Alice Manly, Chloe Ramambason, Thais Umbelino, Holly McElhone
Thames C: Deepika Reddy (cox), Sarah Gulley, Eleanor Garratt-Smith, Dubheasa Lanipekun, Laura Phillips, Sonia van Gilder Cooke, Natalie Morgan, Natasha Branch, Maja Hook
All three Thames crews finished in the top seven in the time trial for seeding. In the heats, the A crew beat Barnes Bridge Ladies, the B crew rowed back through Tyne RC, and the C crew held off Worcester.
On Saturday in the quarter-finals the A crew looked comfortable against Nottingham RC. The B crew fell to Vesta while the C crew found Agecroft a bit too tough.
In Sunday’s semi-finals, the A crew avenged the B crew’s loss to Vesta with a controlled row. They followed that up by dispatching City of Bristol A in the final in a smooth, powerful and confident performance.
Aspirational Club 4-
Iona Casley, Amy Gibson, Sarah Carlotti, Jess Eastwood
The 4-’s campaign began with an easily verdict over City of Cambridge, followed on Saturday afternoon by a three-length win against Tyne in the quarter-finals.
On Sunday, they beat a Scottish composite crew in an exciting battle down the course, taking them through to the final against Tideway Scullers. After a good start, the crews clashed as they came off the island. The race continued, with Scullers crossing the line in front, but at the finish the Thames crew were unfortunately disqualified by the umpire in relation to the clash.
Championship 2x
Emma Reiser, Jordan Cole-Hossain
Jordan and Emma looked powerful seeing off a University of Tulsa crew in their first round race on Saturday. On Sunday, they found themselves up against former Thames rower Chloe, racing for Reading University. Chloe and her partner were just a bit too quick and progressed to the final, where they lost a tight race with Leander.
Championship Lightweight 1x
Suzi Perry
After the time trial Suzi earned herself a bye to the quarter-finals, where she looked strong beating a sculler from Oxford University. That set up a semi-final against 2014 world champion Eveline Peleman of Belgium. Suzi raced a superb race, leading off the start and forcing Peleman to mount a major attack to come through for the win.
Championship 4-
Olivia Rogerson, Megan Barry, Maud Moir, Lowenna Coad
The Championship 4- have enjoyed rowing together this season and it showed in a technically excellent first round race against Molesey B to put them in the quarter-finals. In that round they faced a crew from the University of London with international aspirations. Although outgunned, the Thames women rowed well and crossed the line with heads high.
Aspirational Lightweight 1x
Thames A: Lizzy Fuller
Thames B: Alice Pickthall
Lizzy qualified for the side-by-side racing through the time trial while Alice missed out. In the first round, Lizzy faced a sculler from Cardiff University and managed to hold her off in a sprint for the line. Unfortunately in the quarter-final Lizzy was unable to find the pace she needed and missed out on the semis.
Development 4+
Cameron McGarry (cox), Alice Nee, Misiki King, Leah Colthurst, Emma Rogers
After making it through the toughest time trial, with only 16 places available to the 37 crews racing, the Development 4+ drew eventual winners Tideway Scullers in the first round. They lost by 2 1/2 lengths in one of the fastest heat times of the day.
Junior 1x
Thames A: Sasha Halsey
Thames B: Hannah Steven
On Saturday morning Sasha qualified for the J1x through the time trial, with Hannah the second-fastest non-qualifier. Sasha went on to win her heat, rowing through her opponent to put her in the quarter-final. Despite a strong race on Sunday morning, Sasha was unable to overhaul her rival from Cambois. However it was a mature performance from the Thames sculler.
