Shiplake entered an impressive five boats to this year’s Henley Royal Regatta, of which four qualified for their respective events, making it once again the most number of crews in the competition from any one school, with Shiplake being the only school to have crews race in each of the four junior events at HRR. In total, 35 pupils entered the regatta this year, 26 pupils officially competing, with at least one crew racing every day until the finals on Sunday 7 July.
Three crews – the boys’ and girls’ eights and the boys' quad – had pre-qualified for their respective cups and trophies but the other two crews – the girls’ quad and the boys’ 2nd eight – took part in the HRR qualifying races on Friday 28 June.
The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup
The boys’ eight had pre-qualified for HRR and, like the girls’ eight, were a 'selected crew' and ready to make an impression! The crew - consisting of Ben Brooks, Henry Day Clark, Joshua Barnes, Isaac Dean, William Harper, Finlay Rhys Jones, Jack Duggan, Callan Wallis, and Monty Walker (cox) - first put in a solid performance to beat Latymer Upper in the first round before downing Saugatuck Rowing Club in the second round. In Friday’s quarter-final, the boys showed incredible grit to come from behind to beat Radley College by ⅔ length and set up a tantalizing semi-final against Eton College. Once again, our boys showed the most phenomenal display of resilience and trust to again come from behind to row through Eton and earn a place in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup final! The last time the boys were in the PE final was in 1989, when Shiplake Old Viking Andrew Brooks, father of Ben Brooks in this year’s eight, was racing 35 years ago.
Ultimately, it was not meant to be in Sunday’s final as the boys lost by ¾ length to a strong St Paul’s School. A brilliant race, and we are so proud of everyone’s efforts and achievements.
The Prince Philip Challenge Trophy
The girls’ eight had also pre-qualified for HRR and the crew consisting of A Merritt, Sophia Foreman, Amelie Parker, Emily Downing, Amelia Westbrook, Lara Vahle, Katie Proudlove, Emily Over, and Oliver Joiner (cox) were eager to put in strong performances! Their first race saw them take on and beat Godolphin & Latymer School by 2¼ lengths which set up a second round race against Henley Rowing Club. In what was a nail-biting race for everyone involved, the girls’ eight came from behind to storm to victory by 1⅓ lengths! In their quarter-final race, however, the girls came up against strong crew from the USA – Marin Rowing Association – and despite putting in a great shift, missed out on a semi-final place by 1½ lengths.
The Fawley Challenge Cup
Having already pre-qualified for HRR off the back of strong performances in just a few recent regattas, the boys’ quad consisting of Oliver Nash, Johannes Meiswinkel, Ed Galer, and Oliver Smee shot off the line in their first race against Belen Jesuit School, USA, to win by 2¼ lengths. In the second round, the boys faced a strong headwind but nonetheless put Hamburg’s Allemannia to the sword to reach Friday’s quarter-final, which made it three Shiplake crews reaching a quarter-final. In Friday’s race, they faced a strong Leander crew and won by 1½ lengths to progress to Saturday’s semi-finals, joining the boys’ eight in the process! This was a fantastic achievement, especially when considering that these boys had swapped from sweep eights to a sculling quad just a matter of weeks previously. In their semi-final, the boys put in a valiant effort but unfortunately lost to Marlow by 2¾ lengths in the end.
The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup
The girls’ quad – consisting of Florence Dallas, Elisabeth Flieger, Sophia McDavid, and Eva Rootkin-Gray – took part in the HRR qualifying races and went on to be one of the seven fastest crews to qualify for HRR! In their first race, the girls put in a solid race to beat Canada’s Shawnigan Lake by 3½ lengths and reach the second round. Their next race proved to be a different affair however as in tough conditions, they fell to defeat by another crew from Canada – Crossley School – by 4 lengths. However, the girls should keep their heads held high, having qualified for HRR and reaching the second round!
The Temple Challenge Cup
It was always going to be a big ask to be one of the 16 fastest from 55 mostly university crews looking to qualify but our boys – consisting of Kai Critchley, Tomos Weighell, William Tavinor, Archie Heading, Oliver Bennett, Rupert Evans, D Wilson, Ed Houghton and Ben Loggie (cox) - put in a fantastic effort to come 23rd fastest, missing out by seven crews. Their performance was still very impressive and the boys’ 2nd eight should be very proud of themselves!
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