New Zealand complete stunning Henley debut
5th July 2009New Zealand proved that they are currently one of the most powerful rowing nations in the world with four wins at Henley Royal Regatta in their debut year as a full national team – despite the presence of a strong GB national squad.
Mahe Drysdale destroyed Alan Campbell’s hopes of a Diamond Sculls Challenge Cup hat-trick. The New Zealand world champion had Britain’s top sculler’s measure early in the race to control from the front and take victory in 8:28 in a strong headwind.
The Double Sculls Challenge Cup also featured a New Zealand win when Matthew Trott and Nathan Cohen overcame GB’s Beijing bronze medalists in a tighter race but still by a length at the line.
Emma Twigg took the Princess Royal Challenge Cup with a win over Genevra Stone of the USA whilst Hamish Bond and Eric Murray, vanquishers yesterday of GB Olympic gold medalists Peter Reed and Andrew Triggs Hodge, won the Silver Goblets Challenge Cup for men’s pair with some ease over Ramon di Clemente and Shaun Keeling of South Africa who were the champions a year ago.
The only two NZ losses of the day came in the Princess Grace Challenge Cup when the GB squad quadruple scull of Katie Greves, Beth Rodford, Sarah Cowburn and Ro Bradbury overcame a Waiariki R.C. entry by three lengths and in the Stewards’ Challenge for men’s fours against GB.
Great Britain also had wins in the Remenham Challenge Cup for women’s eights over Yale University of the USA.
Eton College were the outstanding schoolboy crew of the Regatta taking the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup by a verdict of five lengths over Abingdon School – although Westminster School were eye-catching in schoolboy quadruple sculls with a superb win against Melbourne Grammar School of Australia in the last of 286 races in the main Regatta which began on Wednesday.
Today’s finals were contested in blustery headwind conditions after a week of often-perfect water conditions and light breezes. Next year’s Henley Royal Regatta will take place from 30 June – 4 July.