Henley Women’s, Marlow Regatta, World Cup II
With less than two weeks until Henley Royal Regatta, Newcastle athletes past and present were in action across Europe. In Henley-on-Thames, our Women’s squad raced down the famous course of booms at Henley Woman’s Regatta. The Men were based at Eton, Dorney competing at Marlow Regatta and several of our Alumni were racing In Linz, Austria at World Rowing Cup II.
Henley Woman’s Regatta
Friday saw the majority of crews racing in Qualification Time Trials. The Aspirational Academic 8+ drew Drexel University, USA who they beat comfortably by 2 lengths. This followed a close win over Bristol University by the Aspirational Academic 4- in which the verdict was just half a length. Following steering difficulties in their Time Trial, our Academic Aspirational 4x did not progress from the Time Trial.
The Championship Quad’s first race on Saturday was against Oxford Brookes University. After technical difficulties prior to the race and a disappointing start, the crew won by two lengths. The Eight continued their run of success by beating local rivals, Durham University, as they did at the Boat Race of the North. Sadly, the coxless four did not progress further as they lost to Exeter University on Saturday. It was a tough start to the Regatta for our Championship Pair. They raced well against Lady Eleanor Holles School by fell short by just over three lengths.
A small entry meant the first race for the Championship LWT 1x was in the semi-finals on Sunday. Fiona Chestnutt dominated from the first stroke to beat the sculler from Oxford University by four lengths. In the final, Chestnutt was up against C.Plumb of Peterborough. Once again, she led from the beginning and outclassed her opposition. Newcastle won the Championship Lightweight 1x by three lengths.
The Championship Quad raced strong opposition in the form of Leander Club in their respective semi-final. a close fought race the whole way down the course resulted in a victory by just half a length. This set up a final against Thames Rowing Club. Similar to the semi-final, the race was tight throughout the entirety of the race. Newcastle rallied and won the Championship Quad by half a length.
After beating Oxford Brookes University ‘B’ in a controlled race by one and a half lengths, the crew lined up against the ‘A’ boat from OBUBC. Newcastle raced valiantly from start to finish but sadly fell to their opposition.
With two wins in Championship categories, the strength of the Women’s squad has been highlighted once again. The 8+ and the Quad will now turn their attention Qualifying for Henley Royal Regatta.
Marlow Regatta
The Prince Albert 4+ was entered into University Coxed Fours. Following a mature Time Trial, they raced well in a tough field against top crews from Bristol and Exeter Universities ultimately placing third.
Following a very close Time Trial in Tier 2 8s the 2nd VIII and the LWT VIII qualified for the ‘B’ and ‘C’ final respectively. The two boats performed well in their finals with the 2nd VIII placing 12th overall and the Lightweights 17th.
Newcastle was apart of two composite Quads. the Lightweight composite with Leander Club and Edinburgh University raced to 6th place in Championship Quads while the combination with Nottingham and Queen’s Belfast placed 3rd in Tier 2 Quads.
The 1st VIII won the Time Trial of Championship 8s beating Leander Club by three seconds. They continued to build on this in the final finishing 3rd behind Leander and St. Pauls. The time was 5:36.935, the fastest a Newcastle crew has gone. Ever.
World Rowing Cup II- Linz Austria
After moving from the Pair to the Eight, Emily Ford placed 4th, one second behind Bronze medalists Australia. great Britain entered two Men’s Fours. The crew containing Tom Ford placed 4th, beating George Rossiter’s boat into 5th place. Gemma hall raced well in her Lightweight double, qualifying for the ‘B’ final, where she ultimately finished 4th with partner Maddie Arlett. James Rudkin’s Pair with Josh Bugajski was disqualified after it was discovered that their boat did not meet FISA weight regulations.
