Course records set on final day
Two course records were set and the US Naval Academy presented with the anniversary King’s Cup on the final day of Henley Royal Regatta.
The US Naval Academy spectacularly rowed through the impressive German Bundeswehr eight in the Enclosures while the British Imperial Military Band coincidentally played the Dambusters march.
There is work to be done in the British national team ahead of next weekend’s Rotterdam World Cup and the Olympic qualifying World Championships next month, after the men’s and women’s eights lost to New Zealand by worryingly large margins. But there were good wins for the men’s double and quad, and two under-23 crews. The men’s quad did their best to crack the Queen Mother Cup course record despite a straight final against a weaker German entry, but John Collins and Graeme Thomas lowered the Double Sculls record with victory by a length over 2017 world and Henley champions John Storey and Chris Harris.
New Zealand’s other crews were more successful, Kerri Gowler and Grace Prendergast completing the rare feat of winning two events on the same day, the women’s pairs and eights, among a total of five squad victories.
Britain’s under-23 team have yet to be announced, but the likely men’s four and quad put on stunning displays, both beating Dutch crews using power and beautiful technique. The quad equalled the course record and beat Skoll and Orca after the Dutchmen’s charge to the line had proved fruitless.
The Visitors’ four had a coronation row: they left Nereus and Laga floundering as they stormed towards the line, equalling the record to the Barrier and Fawley and chopping three seconds off the course record.
China’s rowing team made history, collecting not only their first Henley trophy but the first for any Asian country, after beating the Dutch internationals in the Princess Grace women’s quads.