HRR 2023 – CLUB
Thamesis Rules the Waves
Words: Rachel Quarrell
PHOTOGRAPHY BENEDICT TUFNELL
There is no way other ambitious clubs can ignore the unnerving fact that for the second year running Thames Rowing Club were in all four of the club-crew finals at HRR 2023, and won three of them.
Success at Henley Royal, as at other regattas, tends to come when all three aspects: physical ability, technique and psychological approach all come together, with a dash of luck needed perhaps especially with the draw, the weather and in small-boat steering. When a club gets it that right two years running, something interesting is going on.
At least there was one difference, the Putney club swapping this year's Thames Cup regain in exchange for losing the Wyfolds to London in their first face-to-face coxless fours final for over 100 years. That will save some face on the Embankment and puts London 23-20 ahead of their red and black rivals in at the top of the Wyfolds win list. The LRC triumph came after some nasty moments, particularly Friday morning's eventful semifinal against De Hoop (pronounced to rhyme with 'slope'), which had looked as if it might be a likely final until we saw the draw.