Australia wins big at 2018 Henley Royal Regatta

Australia’s Men’s and Women’s Eights have won big at the 2018 Henley Royal Regatta. Racing as the Georgina Hope Rinehart National Training Centre, Australia won the Grand Challenge Cup, for Open Men’s Eights, and the Remenham Challenge Cup, for Open Women’s Eights.

ROWING: Australia’s Men’s and Women’s Eights have won big at the 2018 Henley Royal Regatta. Racing as the Georgina Hope Rinehart National Training Centre, Australia won the Grand Challenge Cup, for Open Men’s Eights, and the Remenham Challenge Cup, for Open Women’s Eights.

The Georgina Hope Rinehart National Training Centre Women’s Eight of Lucy Stephan, Katrina Werry, Hannah Vermeersch, Rosie Popa, Ciona Wilson, Georgie Rowe, Sarah Hawe, Molly Goodman and coxswain James Rook, set a new course record when they beat the Leander Club & University of London BC (Great Britain’s Women’s Eight) in their final at the prestigious British regatta.

The Australians clocked a time of 6 minutes 36 seconds, which is a new Henley record. It is the first time since 2001 that an Australian crew has won the Remenham Challenge Cup. In 2001, it was won by an AIS Women’s Eight featuring Jodi Winter, Joanna Lutz, Julia Wilson, Jane Robinson, Emily Martin, Rebecca Sattin, Victoria Roberts and coxswain Carly Bilson.

The Men’s Eight of Angus Moore, Joshua Hicks, Joshua Booth, Timothy Masters, Spencer Turrin, Alexander Purnell, Jack Hargreaves, Alexander Hill and coxswain, Kendall Brodie, also set a new course record in a spectacular showdown with the C.S. Dinamo & C.S. Steaua (Romania Men’s Eight). The crew crossed the line in a time of 5 minutes 53 seconds.

It’s the first time Australia has won the Grand Challenge Cup since the year 2000, when the AIS Men’s Eight claimed the trophy. The crew in 2000 was made up of Daniel Burke, Jaime Fernandez, Alastair Gordon, Robert Jahrling, Matthew Long, Mike McKay, Nick Porzig, Stuart Welch and coxswain Brett Hayman.

Campbell Watts and Angus Widdicombe fought it out with Valent and Martin Sinkovic, of Croatia, in the Silver Goblets and Nickalls’ Trophy for the Men’s Pair, with the GHR NTC duo finishing runners up. Australian sculler, Madeleine Edmunds finished runner up to Jeannine Gmelin, of Switzerland, in the Princess Royal Challenge Cup for Women’s Single Sculls.

Finally, congratulations to Mercantile Rowing Club who finished runners up in the Wyfold Challenge Cup, with the victory being taken by Molesey BC. Well done to all the Australians that competed at the 2018 Henley Royal Regatta.

Rowing Australia