Let's get on with it, then! The Henley Royal Regatta is settling into a pace now, with a full schedule of races and a head wind dropping by now and again. The weather is holding out today at the Thames, at least the umbrellas haven't been necessary. The wind, however, is a fickle force: sometimes a brutal partner in the lane, sometimes an annoying mate. It has made a few unexpected crews fall; Dartmouth, for instance took a sobering loss to Georgetown yesterday, early assessment of the race was that they just didn't handle the headwind as well as their guests at Buckinghamshire Station at their starboard side.
Wind also drove into American Jamie Schroeder on this first day of the Diamond Challenge Sculls. He won easily, his size certainly aiding his passage down the course. In traditional British measures, Schroeder is a sinewy 16 stone, 10 pounds, Stephenson from Molesey Boat Club a more compact 12 stone, 7 pounds. Schroeder rowed a new Empacher at this race, a departure from his usual Kaschper.
Thomas Jefferson won easily in a similar fashion-they simply out powered their opposition. This is their second win by such a distance and will be looking for a closer match-up in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup in days to come.
In the sixth race of an 84-race ticket for Thursday, Colgate took Eton College by 4 lengths at a low and efficient rating of 29, their UK opposition were racing well behind, "striking at a 36" said the announcer.
New York Athletic Club had a solid race in the Wyfold Challenge Cup for coxless fours winning by 3 and a half lengths over London Rowing Club. After yesterday's race against Henley Rowing Club that was "not rowed out," these men are still looking for a good challenge start-to-finish, this kind of anticipation makes each day more exciting. Will let you know how the next match plays out.
The Brown University men blasted out of the start at a 42 rating, settling by end of Temple Island at 36, then a steady, good-looking 32 at the Regatta Enclosure Grandstand. The family of Coach Paul Cooke was sitting just beside row2k reporter, daughter Noelle made a lovely poster of the Brown Crew. It must have been her artwork; the crew won this match of the Ladies' Challenge easily.
Georgetown looks like contender in the Temple Cup, taking a neon pink-clad Nihon University from Japan by three lengths. Syracuse University, covering the spectrum of bright uni's (theirs orange, of course!), looked comfortable winning over Isis Boat Club& Oxford Brookes University for the Ladies' Challenge Cup.
Malvern Prep, from Pennsylvania, consistently finishes in the top of United States Championship sculling events. Their showing here is encouraging so far; today's battle against that headwind produced a win by 2 lengths for the Fawley Challenge Cup over a Belgian crew.
In an odd twist of the draws, a US crew from Belmont Hill School met a St. Paul's crew two days running. On Wednesday they won over the Apostle's USA contingent; Thursday, a UK St. Paul crew fell behind BHS. Hill 2, Saints 0. The Boston crew won the New England Interscholastic Rowing Championships Varsity 4 and 2V4 events, stateside New Englanders know this team delivers some good rowers to any course.
The morning ended without a drop, an hour into the afternoon session hitting the stage, rain made an appearance, just after a Diamond Sculls race came down--more on that this afternoon.
Report from the banks, this time at the Boat Tent Enclosure:
Two elderly British women, standing side by side in hats, tailored suits and overall perfect, albeit conservative attire. One says to the other as the men's crew took off their uni tops to put on t-shirts, sotto voice:
"My, stripping down..." (poignant pause and gawking) "…carry on, don't stop there!"
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