From Henley Royal Regatta
The 160th Henley Royal Regatta has attracted a top-flight entry amongst its 468 crews from 15 nations racing in 19 events, including a Chinese entry for the first time since 1839, when the Regatta began.
Andrew Triggs Hodge and Peter Reed, Olympic champions in the men’s four, will contest the Silver Goblets (men’s pair) event and are two of seven Beijing gold medallists at this year’s Regatta which runs from Wednesday (July 1) until Sunday (July 5).
Reed and Hodge, on Saturday, are expected to face New Zealanders Hamish Bond and Eric Murray who beat them in the World Cup two weeks ago. World Champion Mahe Drysdale (also from New Zealand) takes on the Olympic champion Olaf Tufte as well as Olympic finalists Alan Campbell of Great Britain and Tim Maeyens of Belgium in the Diamond Challenge Sculls for single sculls.
The Queen Mother Challenge Cup will see Poland’s Olympic champions take on Great Britain’s new, young quadruple scull of Sam Townsend, Marcus Bateman, Bill Lucas and Charles Cousins. The GB men’s four of Alex Partridge, Alex Gregory, Ric Egington and Matt Langridge will also be in action in the Stewards’ Challenge Cup and will face Italian, American and New Zealand opposition.
Matt Wells and Stephen Rowbotham, the Beijing Olympic bronze medallists, racing in the Double Sculls Challenge Cup, have found themselves in a hotly-contested field which includes both the leading New Zealand open and lightweight double sculls.
Mike Sweeney, chairman of the Regatta, said: “I am delighted that, in this post-Olympic year, we have been able to attract such a high quality entry for this year’s Regatta. The presence of almost the full British team is particularly pleasing and the strong international competition should produce some wonderful racing.â€
The women’s events at the Regatta have also attracted a strong entry. The Princess Royal Challenge Cup for single scullers has New Zealand Olympian Emma Twigg as well as Beijing double scull finalists Ellen Tomek and Megan Kalmoe of the USA who will race separately here.
Great Britain’s women’s eight are amongst the eight entries for the Remenham Challenge Cup whilst the women’s quadruple scull contests The Prince Grace Challenge Cup.
Racing starts at 9.00am on Wednesday and the finals are on Sunday.
For further information contact: The Henley Royal Regatta Press Office on: 01491 571356 or press@hrr.co.uk or visit www.hrr.co.uk
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