The Henley Royal Regatta provided further signs of a bright future for Shiplake rowing, as the 1st VIII tasted victory for the first time in five years. A stellar day one performance by the bees saw them overcome Bedford Modern School, before narrowly missing out on a spot in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup quarter finals.
An early start and scorching temperatures did nothing to dispel local pride, with a sea of iconic Shiplake blazers out in force to support the boys in their first race against BMS. Parents, families and Old Vikings gathered at the boat tents to clap the boys onto the river and wish them well. The senior crew of Waller, Green, Carey, Thomann, Cawthorne, H Berkley, T Berkley, Gerrard and cox Jamie Pond made a fast start and immediately built a healthy lead. This was extended gradually across the famous course, with Shiplake clocking an impressive time to beat their opponents by 4 lengths.
The performance caused a stir in the local press and on social media, with the Henley Standard and countless friends of the College getting behind the bees. The new addition of television cameras and YouTube live streaming gave coaches and athletes an opportunity to analyse their performance in preparation for the next round. Meanwhile, governors and parents of senior rowers toasted the boys’ success with a reception at Henley Cricket Club.
A tough draw pitched Shiplake against Radley College in the next round. Radley were touted as one of the favourites for the Princess Elizabeth title, and unsurprisingly provided a stern test. There was nothing to split the boats in the opening stages, but once Shiplake settled into their rhythm, Radley kept pushing to build a narrow lead. The bees continued to battle bravely but could do nothing to reign in the Oxfordshire powerhouses, eventually succumbing to defeat by two lengths.
The Headmaster was full of praise for a highly respectable performance, and urged the Boat Club to keep building for the future. Shiplake’s J16s missed out on qualification for the Temple Challenge Cup, which features Britain’s top universities, by just 1.2 seconds.
Director of Rowing Dave Currie commented: ‘I am pleased by the progress made this year, and getting a win at Henley caps a successful season. I hope this year’s 1st VIII will serve as role models to the younger rowers coming through, as there is no reason why we cannot start competing in the latter stages of the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup in the years to come. I would like to thank my colleagues and all parents for their fantastic support this summer.’