Princeton University Athletics
Rowe Cup Champion Heavyweights Send Trio Of Eights To Royal Henley Regatta
June 16, 2015 | Heavyweight Rowing
PRINCETON AT HENLEY
After winning the team title at Eastern Sprints and posting the East's best performance at IRAs, the Princeton heavyweights just weren't ready to go different ways for the summer. Instead, their top three boats are all going to the same place: Henley.
Three heavyweight boats (1V, 2V, 3V) will represent Princeton at the Royal Henley Regatta this summer (July 1-5). Three eights from the same Princeton program have never competed at one Henley, and with only six seniors combined in those three boats, the effect will be felt in both the present and the future.
"The IRA was a rewarding performance for the team and all of the boats are very excited to have another chance to race," head coach Greg Hughes said. "Henley is a special event and the entire team is really looking forward to the experience.
"After such a long, cold winter, having more time to train on the water in nice weather and conditions is a huge plus," Hughes added. "It is also great to train while the rowers are free from classes and course work. We have been able to log some good, long miles and all of the boats are showing solid improvements."
The heavyweights have made several appearances at Henley, including a thrilling championship run in 2006, when the Sprints champion varsity eight won the Ladies Challenge Plate by half a length over the Leander Club & Molesey Boat Club. Multiple boats from the same team have competed at Henley, including the 1996 heavyweights, which took the first and second varsity after a Rowe Cup title.
Both the varsity eight (bronze at both Sprints and IRAs) and the second varsity eight (gold at Sprints, silver at IRAs) will compete for the Ladies Challenge Plate, which is the eights competition in the intermediate level. The third varsity, which won gold at Sprints and made the finals at IRAs, will compete for the Temple Challenge Cup, the eights competition at the student level.
Princeton has had winners in both events this century. The 2003 heavyweight freshmen and the 2009 lightweight eight both won the Temple Challenge Cup. Hughes, the varsity assistant for the former and lightweight head coach for the latter, was on the Thames to witness both championships.
"Henley is always special," Hughes said. "It is so unique and is more than just a rowing race, it's a rowing event. For me, Henley is about the experience. It is especially rewarding to see three of our boats experience Henley together. It's a unique and special opportunity for our team."
Several members of the 2003 freshman eight returned to Henley as seniors in 2006, when they won the Ladies Challenge Plate by half a length over the Leander Club.
The PURA typically sponsors Princeton boats who either win the varsity eight title at their respective Sprints/Ivy Championships, or who have an especially impressive team performance. The 2015 heavyweights certainly fit the latter. Princeton hadn't earned multiple golds at a single Sprints this century, and it hadn't won the Rowe Cup since 2001. In fact, outside of this historic seven-year span between 1995-2001, when the Tigers won an amazing six of seven Rowe Cups, Princeton had never brought home the Rowe Cup before the 2015 Sprints.
Then came the incredible weekend at IRAs, when Princeton reached the A final in the 1V, 2V and 3V. The varsity eight earned its first medal at nationals since 2006, and it missed a silver medal over California by inches. The second varsity led through the first 1500 meters of its final before finally getting caught by top-seeded Washington in the final 500.
Also, the V8 and 2V8 combined to finish 3.95 seconds out of first place in their respective finals. No Eastern program combined to go under four seconds in those two IRA races since 2004.
Sending three boats could send expenses for the PURA up to nearly $100,000, but both the experience for the 27 Princeton competitiors, as well as the additional training for the team, made it a worthwhile investment. The continued generosity of alumni, parents and friends enables to the PURA to underwrite this trip.
Check back later this month for a long-form history of Princeton at Henley.