Here's a preview of select races at the 41st Head Of The Charles regatta:
Top Brits To Invade Men's Champ Eights
Cambridge University Boat Club, winners of the 40th Regatta Men's Championship Eight event have been basking in the glory of their first HOCR win last year. They are ready to return to Boston to defend their Head Of The Charles title. Last year, in an unprecedented turn of events, USRowing unceremoniously crashed into the Eliot Bridge, essentially relinquishing the top spot to the hard-charging Brits. Now the lads from Cambridge will start the event with Bow #1 and fend off all followers, while the US Men are taking the year off from the Regatta to regroup.
Nipping at their stern will be a host of speedy crews from around the globe. CUBC must finish ahead of a boatload of their own countrymen, in order to retain bragging rights at this year's Head Of The Charles. Leander Club of Henley-on-Thames is sending an accomplished crew comprised of British internationals-including at least three members of the World Championship coxless four -in their first sweep appearance at the Regatta.
Starting in the #2 slot will be the accomplished Royal Dutch Rowing Federation. Germany's Rudergesellchaft Wiking e.V. from Berlin will also press from behind, not to mention the Italian heavyweight men, intact from the World Championships in Gifu, Japan. Pacing the ranks will be a sharp "Jordan-esque" entry from Princeton University as well as the west coast powerhouse, the University of California. This should be an epic battle.
Americans To Dominate Women's Champ Eights
Two Dutch entries, Minerva Rowing Club and R.V. Rynland-starting 13th and 14th respectively-may fill the void of their Dutch counterpart, ASR Nereus, who is not returning to defend their Regatta title in the Women's Champ Eight event this year.
Assuming the top pole position for 2005 will be the Lady Tigers from Princeton, followed closely by Yale. A clear course for these two strong collegiate entries will give them a slight advantage. USRowing will start 3rd, and will be chased by Princeton Training Center, also filled with US national team rowers, and a crew from London Training Center (a/k/a Rowing Canada). Other notables in pursuit will be the University of Virginia as well as local favorite, Radcliffe.
Collegiate Men Get Tough
Trinity College of Hartford CT set the rowing community on notice last year, by capturing the title of Head Of The Charles Collegiate Eight. The mighty Bantams from Connecticut then proceeded to continue their storybook season, which culminated in a thrilling victory in the Temple Challenge Cup at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta. Look for them to be in top form this upcoming weekend; they were seen rowing the Charles River course in the pouring rain last Sunday. Starting second will be St. Joseph's University, followed closely by Florida Institute of Technology and the University of Colorado.
Collegiate Women Shift Up
The top five Regatta women's finishers from 2004 will move to the Championship Eight category this year, due to a rule change in the Collegiate events which now excludes scholarship athletes. This shift will clear the way for the Wildcats from Villanova to claim the #1 pole position, and create a golden opportunity for this powerful program to capture the coveted Head Of The Charles crown. They will be challenged by Smith College in the #2 slot, as well as Trinity College, which won top honors at NCAA's last spring. Other challengers include Colgate and Trent University of Ontario, Canada.
Comments | Log in to comment |
There are no Comments yet
|