Princeton University Athletics
Video: Henley Showdown w/ IRA Champ Washington Highlights Draw Announcement
June 30, 2015 | Heavyweight Rowing
VIDEO SERIES: BOAT NAMING l PREVIEW l DRAW ANNOUNCEMENT
PRINCETON AT HENLEY: THE TRADITION l ALL-TIME TIGER ENTRIES
The Henley Week video series continues with a look at the Regatta draw announcement and reaction, which included a buzz when the first-round matchup of Princeton vs. Washington was posted.
The video above announces the draw and gives additional detail to both the Princeton 2V and 3V boats, both of which earned gold medals at the Eastern Sprints. It also highlighted the buzz within the crowd when the Ladies Plate first-round matchup between the Princeton 1V and the IRA national champion Washington 1V was announced.
The Henley Royal Regatta was first held in 1839 and has been held annually every year outside of the two World Wars. The 2015 edition will begin Wednesday, and the Sprints champion Princeton 3V will make its Temple Cup debut when it takes on the lightweight 1V from MIT at 4 pm local (11 am ET) in a first-round matchup.
The Henley Regatta is a "win-and-advance" single-elimination competition, so racing times are announced the night before the next day's competition. Thus, starting times have not been announced for either the Princeton 1V or 2V, both of which will debut Friday in a highly anticipated Ladies Plate competition.
The Princeton first varsity, which earned bronze at the IRA national championships (the program's first IRA medal since 2006), will open against Washington, which has won each of the last five IRA national championships. As seen in the video, Tiger head coach Greg Hughes said he couldn't remember a time when Princeton and Washington raced head-to-head in a dual format.
The Princeton 2V, which won gold at Sprints and silver at IRAs, will take on the Leander Club, a top rowing club in England.
Check back throughout the week for full coverage of the Henley Royal Regatta.