Kiwis contest Henley Royal Regatta
The New Zealand elite rowing team continue their international campaign, competing at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta this week.
The Henley Royal Regatta features a rich history, and is a highlight on the Great British sporting and social calendar. The Regatta was first held in 1839 and has been held annually ever since, except during the two World Wars.
Unlike multi-lane international regattas, Henley still operates a knock-out draw with only two boats racing in each heat. The regatta sees crews race head to head over a one mile 550 yard course on the river Thames, which is 112 metres longer than the standard international distance of 2,000 metres.
The New Zealand elite team will be competing in the maroon colours of the Waiariki Rowing Club.
Single sculler Matt Dunham will contest the Diamond Challenge Sculls. Dunham will be competing in the immensely competitive event for the first time, which has previously been won by Olympian Mahe Drysdale five times.
Hannah Osborne will also be racing between the booms for the first time in the single scull as she competes for the Princess Royal Challenge Cup.
Cameron Webster and Alex Kennedy will have their eyes on the the Silver goblets & Nickalls' Challenge Cup for the men’s pair, against a distinctly international line up including athletes from Hungary, France, Australia, USA and Italy.
Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler will be lining up in the women’s pairs as the 2000 metre world best time holders, alongside Kerri’s younger sister Jackie Gowler and Kirstyn Goodger. Other entries include world champions Megan Kalmoe and Tracy Eisser of the USA, who were forced to settle for silver behind Prendergast and Gowler at the recent World Rowing Cup in Poznan.
Olympians Chris Harris and John Story are chasing the Double Sculls Challenge Cup. Harris and Story are likely to have a battle on their hands with Olympic champions Pierre Houin and Jeremie Azou of France and Hans Gruhne and Karl Schultz of Germany also in contention.
Olivia Loe and Brooke Donoghue will be strong contenders in the women’s double scull following their successful World Rowing Cup racing in Poznan which saw them secure a gold medal and a new world cup best time.
Lewis Hollows, Cameron Crampton, Nathan Flannery and Giacomo Thomas are contending the Queen Mother Challenge Cup for the men’s coxless quad against the striking pink colours of the historic Leander Rowing Club.
The men’s and women’s eights will also be challenging the Grand Challenge Cup and Remenham Challenge Cup respectively. The eights race is regarded as one of the most exciting as crews negotiate the challenging course and avoid tangling with infamous booms.
Absent from the line up are the lightweight women’s double of Jackie Kiddle and Zoe McBride, the men’s pair of Tom Murray and Jamie Hunter, and single sculler Robbie Manson.
McBride and Hunter are recovering from earlier injuries which forced them out of the World Rowing Cup in Poznan and are remaining in Hazewinkel, Belgium with their crewmates to continue training.
Manson will not be competing in Henley due to a rib injury.
Joining our elite athletes at the regatta is the Avon Rowing Club men's eight. The Avon men will be competing in the Thames Challenger Cup.
The first rounds of the Silver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge Cups, the Double Sculls Challenge Cup, and the Princess Royal Challenge Cup will begin racing on Thursday 29th June. The first rounds of all other events will begin racing on Friday 30th June.
For regatta information, entry lists, streaming and results see https://www.hrr.co.uk/
Rowing New Zealand Elite Team 2017
To contest the Henley Royal Regatta
29 June – 2 July 2017
Men’s Single Scull
Matthew Dunham (Waikato RPC, Cambridge RC)
Calvin Ferguson (coach)
Men’s Coxless Pair
Cameron Webster (Auckland RPC, North Shore RC)
Alex Kennedy (Waikato RPC, Te Awamutu RC)
Noel Donaldson (coach)
Men’s Double Scull
Chris Harris (Central RPC, Aramaho Wanganui RC)
John Storey (Southern RPC, Avon RC)
Calvin Ferguson (coach)
Men’s Coxless Quad
Lewis Hollows (Auckland RPC, West End RC)
Cameron Crampton (Southern RPC, Timaru RC)
Nathan Flannery (Southern RPC, Union Christchurch RC)
Giacomo Thomas (Auckland RPC, Hawkes Bay RC)
Mike Rodger (coach)
Men’s Coxed Eight
Drikus Conradie (Waikato RC, Waikato RC)
Brook Robertson (Central RPC, Nelson RC)
Isaac Grainger (Auckland RPC, Auckland RC)
Shaun Kirkham (Waikato RPC, Waikato RC)
Anthony Allen (Waikato RPC, Waikato RC)
James Lassche (Southern RPC, Avon RC)
Patrick McInnes (Waikato RPC, Hawkes Bay RC)
Stephen Jones (Auckland RPC, West End RC)
Caleb Shepherd (cox) (Waikato RPC, Waikato RC)
Gary Roberts (coach)
Women’s Double Scull
Olivia Loe (Southern RPC, Avon RC)
Brooke Donoghue (Waikato RPC, Waikato RC)
James Coote (coach)
Women’s Single Scull
Hannah Osborne (Waikato RPC, Te Awamutu RC)
James Coote (coach)
Women’s Coxless Pair
Kerri Gowler (Central RPC, Aramoho Wanganui RC)
Grace Prendergast (Southern RPC, Avon RC)
Gary Hay (coach)
Women’s Coxless Pair 2
Kirstyn Goodger (Central RPC, Wairau RC)
Jackie Gowler (Central RPC, Aramoho Wanganui RC)
Women’s Coxed Eight
Georgia Perry (Waikato RPC, Cambridge RC)
Emma Dyke (Southern RPC, Timaru RC)
Lucy Spoors (Southern RPC, Canterbury RC)
Rebecca Scown (Central RPC, Union Wanganui)
Kelsi Walters (Auckland RPC, Auckland Grammar RC)
Kelsey Bevan (Auckland RPC, Counties Manukau RC)
Ruby Tew (Central RPC, Star BC)
Ashlee Rowe (Auckland RPC, North Shore RC)
Sam Bosworth (cox) (Southern RPC, Avon RC)
Dan Kelly (coach)
Team Manager
Jan Taylor