Three Henley Royal trophies
Henley Royal Regatta 2022 proved to be Thames' best since 1928, with three wins from the four finals including our first title in the Wargrave Challenge Cup, our second in the Britannia, and our 20th in the Wyfold.
The Thames Cup went to Molesey after a close race, but three wins from four finals is a result that has rarely been bettered in the club's long history.
The Wargrave Challenge Cup crew included seven members of last year’s losing finalist crew. They progressed through the regatta with a series of strong rows to set up another final against Leander. In that race, they blasted out of the blocks to take an early lead which they held throughout the race - breaking every record as they did so, including taking a massive 12 seconds off Leander’s full-course record from 2021.
The Wargrave B crew had earlier made it to the quarter-finals after a tremendous race against Mercantile RC (Australia), while Wargrave C rowed well in their loss to Vesta in the first round, having qualified well.
The Britannia Challenge Cup was secured with a chunky row against London A in the final, following a series of assured races from the crew. In the Wyfold Challenge Cup, Friday’s semi-final against Taurus BC proved decisive - that reasonably close race giving confidence for the final. Against NSR Oslo, the Thames men looked confident and smooth to take a big open water win. Fittingly, it was 30 years since bowman Max Gillard’s father David won the same trophy in the same seat, rowing for Cambridge University.
The Thames Cup A crew were dominant in the first three rounds, paddling over the line each day in the low-20s. Their semi-final against Leander was an exciting race, with Leander clinging on to Thames’ coattails right down the course.
The final was a replay of 2021, but with the opposite result. A good start saw an early lead for Thames, but Molesey pulled through after the Barrier to eke out a lead of just under a length. The Thames surge saw them come back in the closing stages to lose by just 2/3 length.
Thames B looked fantastic reaching the quarter-finals, and pushed Sydney RC every inch in a superb row. Thames C faced Leander two days before Thames A and made their opponents race the course to beat them.
In the Visitors’ Challenge Cup, the Thames & Leander composite reached the semi-finals against a fast Washington University boat. A thrilling race saw Washington take the early lead, which the Thames crew then clawed back, only for Washington to respond. The Huskies crossed the line a length ahead.
The Remenham composite drew Leander on Wednesday, losing by 2 1/2 lengths. Both Ladies’ Plate composites went out in the first round - Thames & Army to the University of California, Berkeley, and Leander & Thames (the GB under-23 composite) to Leander. Cal and Leander would eventually face off in the final. The Prince of Wales quad also lost to eventual finalists, Reading University A, in the first round.
Three crews did not make it through qualifiers: the Ladies’ Plate crew consisting of ‘young vets’, Thames Cup D and Wargrave D. Thames D were particularly unfortunate, as the fastest non-qualifiers with only three qualifying places available.
Club spirit was in full show throughout the weekend, culminating in a huge crowd gathering to cheer the Thames Cup crew off. Thanks to everyone who showed up to support and congratulations to the athletes and coaching team for an incredible week.
