TWO crews from Grosvenor Rowing Club made waves during one of the biggest events in the summer racing calendar – Henley Women’s Regatta.
The Chester club sent two crews to the internationally renowned competition, which once again attracted a worldwide field.
There were high hopes for Grosvenor’s talented women’s intermediate eight, who made it as far as the quarter-final stage before being losing to eventual finalists Lea Rowing Club.
Weather conditions all weekend were far from ideal, with strong headwinds and a fearsome current in the famous Henley course.
Grosvenor’s eight – comprising Sarah Turner, Abigail Sedgwick, Helen Rowland, Laura Antrobus, Louise Tobias, Tanith Allwood, Leanne Ratcliff and Lindsay Scott with cox Richard Merhtens (a late replacement) – took on City of Oxford in their first race.
They led from the start, winning by a healthy one-and-three-quarter lengths.
The stream and wind picked up in the afternoon, just in time for the quarter-finals.
The distinctive orange colours of Lea had a significant advantage over the yellows of Grosvenor, with the heavier crew faring better, pushing through the gusty headwind.
Lea claimed the win and duly swept through the semis and into the final, where they lost to Vesta Rowing Club by a mere quarter-of-a-length.
The first Grosvenor crew in action at Henley had been the intermediate four of Margaret Ugbo, Sarah Dutton, Roxi Parkinson and Yvonne Wharton with cox Carolyn Pollard.
They battled it out in the time trial last Friday in an attempt to win the right to compete over the weekend.
Of the 32 competing boats, only the fastest eight would make it through to race for medals.
Grosvenor were one of the crews to miss out, finishing just outside the fastest non-qualifying time.
The rest of the summer looks busy for Grosvenor, with crews due to compete at a range of local and national events including Ironbridge Regatta this weekend and Henley Masters Regatta in July.
