Henley Rowing Club

Founded 1839

Back to Regatta Index

Metropolitan Regatta

The prestigious Metropolitan Amateur Regatta, run by London Rowing Club, was held last Saturday and Sunday at Dorney Lake. The regatta was first held on the Tideway between Putney and Hammersmith in 1866 where it remained until 1977. In 1978 it moved to a multi-lane course at Thorpe Park and in 1988 it moved again to the Royal Albert Docks. Finally in 2001 The Met moved to Dorney Lake, the Olympic standard course at Eton where this year it attracted well over 800 mens and womens crews.  

 The draw on Saturday in the Senior 1 Eights for the Charles Dimont Cup saw Henley Rowing Club in a heat with London RC (B), Thames RC and Thames Tradesman which Henley won by over 1 ½ lengths. Three crews from each heat went through to the final which Henley went on to win in a time of 5.54 minutes over London (A), Oxford University Lightweights and Nottingham Union. Henley had an excellent start and led Oxford University Lwt by ½ a length at the 500 metre mark. By 1000 metres London had taken 2^nd position from Oxford and it then became a race over the second 1000 metres between Henley and London with the other crews falling back. Henley held off the challenge, taking the race with a 1/3 of a length over London.

 Henley had further success on Saturday in the School/Junior Quadruple Sculls. In a very exciting final, Henley came from behind to win on the line. Northwich RC took the lead and by 500 metres were over a length up on Henley with Star Club in third position. At the 1000 metre mark Henley had closed the gap with Northwich to ½ a length but at the 1500 mark Northwich had recovered and were 2/3 of a length ahead. In the final 500 metres however, Henley caught Northwich and went on to win by less than a canvass. 

 Sunday saw Henley racing again in Senior 1 Eights for the magnificent Old Barnes Cup first awarded in 1901. In the heats contested by eleven crews, Henley took an early lead but were leading London at the 1000 metre mark by just ¼ of a length and at 1500 metres London had closed the gap further however in the last 500 metres Henley pulled away from London to take first place by 2/3 of a length from York City who squeezed past London at the finish with Notts County in fourth.

 With three of the crews from each of the heats going through to the final, Henley found itself up against London, Thames Tradesmen, Thames, Molsey and York City. Henley went off to a good start and by 500 metres were in the lead by ½ a length over Molsey with Thames Tradesmen, pushing Molsey hard, in third position. At 1500 metres the order remained the same with Henley opening their lead to 2/3 of a length over Molsey but it was a tight race with only 1 ½ lengths separating the first three crews. At  the finish, Molsey were unable to close the gap and Henley won a well fought race by 2/3 of a length over Molsey in second with York coming through in third.

 These wins on Saturday and Sunday at Dorney against top London and provincial clubs has given Henley a big boost of confidence prior to Marlow regatta on Saturday 18^th June, also at Dorney and augurs well for Henley Royal Regatta which starts on Wednesday 29^th June.

Back to Regatta Index