Henley Rowing Club showcased its dominance in the junior categories during the Henley Town and Visitors’ Regatta on Saturday. In the J14 double sculls, Ace Hawkins-Bekir and Zach Norman triumphed over teams from Stratford-upon-Avon and a second crew from Henley itself to claim the title. Their performance added to the club's overall success, highlighting the strength of Henley’s junior rowers.
Henley juniors deliver key wins
Tom Leppard demonstrated his versatility by securing victories in two separate events. He first won the J15 double sculls, overcoming Sudbury in a straight final, before moving on to the J14 single sculls. In that race, he bested two rowers from Wallingford Rowing Club in consecutive heats to take his second win of the day. Leppard’s success underscored his growing presence in competitive rowing.
Lottie Cotton further bolstered Henley's success with a commanding performance in the girls’ J15 single sculls. She navigated a challenging final, where she faced two Wallingford Rowing Club opponents, and emerged victorious. In the open coxless pairs category, Diego Petrosillo and Oscar Newson delivered one of the standout performances of the regatta. They first overcame senior crews from Reading Rowing Club before defeating Cygnet in the final to claim the event title.
Upper Thames Rowing Club secures multiple victories
Upper Thames Rowing Club experienced a successful day, earning four event wins. Tom Foster took the Band 2 open single sculls, defeating David Cousens of Southampton Coalporters Amateur Rowing Club by one length. Foster’s victory was a clear demonstration of his skill and endurance. In the open coxless fours, the Upper Thames team of Pete Jacobs, Wayne Callaghan, Ian Hill, and Daniel Simkins beat teams from Reading and Curlew in a thrilling final.
In addition to the coxless fours win, Upper Thames also triumphed in the Masters F quad and Masters H double events. The quad victory was secured by Steve Dance, John Wilson, Andrew Ciecierski, and Steve Quinn, while Rod Stewart and D Hope claimed the double event. These performances contributed to a strong showing for the club and added to the overall excitement of the regatta.
Shiplake Vikings and Victor Ludorum
Shiplake Vikings earned four runners-up positions across the women’s categories, including the WJ15 coxed quadruple sculls, Band 2 W16 double scull, and both the WJ16 and WJ14 single sculls. Despite falling short of outright victories, the team demonstrated consistent performance and competitive strength.
The Victor Ludorum, an award given to the most successful club of the regatta, was won by Marlow Rowing Club. The victory came after a tight battle with Maidenhead Rowing Club and Vesta Rowing Club throughout the day. Marlow's success in multiple events earned them the prestigious Peter Sutherland Challenge Cup, cementing their status as the top-performing club.
Wallingford Rowing Club also had moments to celebrate. Their junior crew claimed the Town Cup in the open coxless fours, where they narrowly beat Reading Rowing Club by two-thirds of a length. The competition was intense, with every race showcasing the high level of skill and determination among the participants.
The regatta saw 304 crews from 54 rowing clubs participate, with 635 competitors taking part in 138 events. The event ran smoothly throughout the day, with all races completing on schedule. We are very fortunate to have such an amazing committee, who worked tirelessly to produce a wonderful event.”
Regatta chairman Mark Davies also expressed his gratitude to the community for making the event possible. “I’d like to thank all our volunteers, subscribers, sponsors and supporters who, together, delivered such a successful day,” he said. He also acknowledged the stewards of Henley Royal Regatta for allowing the use of their land and facilities and thanked Henley Town Council for their long-standing support. Particular praise was given to the younger juniors of Henley RC, who managed the stake boats at the start of races in challenging weather conditions, including warm temperatures and breezy winds.