Henley Women’s and Henley Royal Regatta 2022
UStABC entered three crews to HWR this year, an aspiration quad, an aspirational double, and a development coxed four.
The aspirational double was a young crew of first years Sarah and Maria, who had raced this combination a number of times through the year. They raced very well in the time trial against a large field and progressed to the next round, where they held their own over an older and more experienced Dutch crew, but were just the wrong side to progress to the quarter finals. A great performance from our younger rowers, and we’re excited to see what they can do in years to come. The aspirational quad was a composite crew with the University of Exeter, and they performed well and nearly progressed to the next round.
Our development four was made up almost entirely of homegrown former UStABC novices at their first HWR. Olivia, Harriet, Min, Ava and cox Elena raced well in the time trial, getting quicker and quicker each round until they met eventual winners Surrey University in the Semi Final. They posted the second fastest time of the regatta in their semi, and in doing so became the most successful UStABC crew in the history of HWR. This is a fantastic achievement by this talented crew, and rounded up a hugely successful season for the women’s squad.
A week later it was the turn of the men’s squad to take on the HRR Qualifying races. This new-look crew of Joseph, Shay, Duncan, Aidan and cox Téa qualified against the odds, against much larger and more established programmes, in the Prince Albert Challenge Cup. They were drawn against Brookes A in round one, who went on to be the eventual winners of the event, but the UStABC crew held their own and race fantastically against a very fast opposition. Unfortunately it was an exit on the Wednesday, but it was still a fantastic result to end the 2021-22 racing season from this crew.
The rest of Henley week included the annual BBQ hosted by our alumni at Eden BC, and Director of Rowing Alan returned briefly to racing in the Aberdeen University row past on the Sunday.
