Press Releases
University Rowing Club enjoys a right Royal Regatta time of it!
Release Date : 17 July 2007
The University of Reading Boat Club's (RUBC) fantastic year continued with a superb squad performance at the recent internationally renowned Henley Royal Regatta.
A record 27 RUBC members raced during this prestigious annual sporting weekend, all doing the University proud.
At the Henley Women's Regatta, held a week before the Royal Regatta, the club had two stunning victories. Atlanta StJohn rowed extremely well to win the top single scull prize, and Jo Lyons completed the double with victory in the senior single scull event. This meant that RUBC came away with both of the women's heavyweight single trophies, confirming the development of the wealth of talent within the ladies squad.
After that fabulous effort it was time for the men to 'paddle' up. The club managed to qualify three crews for this year's Henley Royal Regatta, a magnificent showing, and no crew disappointed.
In the men's student coxed 4's event, RUBC was represented by a crew who amazingly had only started rowing at the University nine months earlier, and although they were knocked out by a strong crew from Queens University, Belfast, their pre-qualification for the regatta put them in the top 16 student coxed 4's in the country. For such an inexperienced four this was a superb achievement and racing at Henley provided them with invaluable experience.
With a warm-up win at Reading Regatta and a 3rd place finish at the Marlow International Regatta, the men's student 8's crew arrived at Henley on top form. This was confirmed with a first class performance in beating Edinburgh University's top crew in the opening round. Unfortunately, waiting in the wings the next day were a University of California crew containing heavy weight internationals but although beaten, RUBC showed tremendous character racing against such mighty opposition.
The club also entered a crew into the elite coxless 4's. Formed three weeks prior to the regatta they turned in an amazing result by reaching the final! Sadly they were unable to overcome a team from the famous Leander club, but the journey there saw them beat a very strong crew from Imperial College and another vastly experienced team made up of members from Oxford University & Molesey Rowing Club.
"Henley was once again a huge success for the club," said RUBC Director of Rowing Will Rand. "It's great to see the women having such a fantastic year on the water. The ladies squad continues to go from strength to strength.
"For the men's student coxed 4's just to qualify for Henley after taking up the sport so recently, shows immense dedication and preparation, traits RUBC is proud to be recognized for. When you consider that only one member of the student 8's crew graduates this year, the 2008 men's squad is going to be exceptionally strong. Congratulations to all those RUBC members who competed at Henley this year."
For information about the University of Reading Boat Club contact Will Rand, Director of Rowing on 07989 972 594 or email w.rand@reading.ac.uk
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List of University crews who competed in this year's Henley Royal Regatta:
The men's student coxed 4's event (The Prince Albert Challenge Trophy)
Ed Jackson, John Kough, Rich Oliver, Josh Lockwood - coxed by Clair Carver
The men's student 8's event (The Temple Challenge Trophy)
David Ewart, Bruce Simpson, Ed Birelle, Chris Carew, Peter Charij, Simon Barbour, James Waters, Rory Parsons – coxed by Julia Cauldwell.
Elite coxless 4's (Visitors Challenge Cup)
Phil Turnham, Brad Whale, Robin Dowell and Will Rand