The Chairman’s Trophy – W4x
For Victoria Barker, Rhian Evans, Hazel Ward, and Lucy Cleaver – doing an excellent job of steering, just qualifying for Henley Women’s Regatta was an achievement etched in months of quiet determination. After previous years never quite happened for them, this crew worked tirelessly through the winter, building resilience and belief. Their qualification into the Chairman’s Trophy marked the culmination of that effort, a moment of quiet emotion for the squad.
Though they lost to Upper Thames by just 1½ lengths in the first round, the result never told the full story. For this crew, qualification itself was a gold medal moment, a hard-earned triumph that deserves immense pride.
Aspirational 2x – Duffy and Wadowska
Following internal seat racing for a seat in the quad, Kate Duffy and Nat Wadowska were the 2nd Leicester boat for the Aspiration 2x. Their build-up was solid, marked by competitive races and steady progress. Henley was always going to be a tough ask in such a stacked field. They missed qualification, finishing mid-pack among non-qualifiers – but their campaign reflected grit and determination.
Aspirational 2x – Lizzie and Eleanor’s Gold Rush
Across a boiling weekend in Henley, Lizzie and Eleanor brought showed just how much they had developed as a crew. Navigating five races in three days with metronomic pacing and remarkable maturity.
Friday’s Time Trial (11:05): Under brutal sun, they launched a clean and composed run. No one knew it yet, but they’d posted the fastest time – a strong omen for the knockout rounds.
Saturday (1716): First heat against the Aussie crew from King’s College and University of Queensland. Ice shirts and cooling tactics were essential, but they made light work of it, taking clear water by the end of the island and cruising to a 3-length win. See you Sunday morning!
Sunday Morning (10:24): The quarter-final against Thames. Potentially 3 races, conserving energy was essential, but always be prepared to race the full course. Another clinical display, clear water by the end of the island, control from stroke to finish, and a 4 length victory.
Semi-Final (1312): Up against USR Triton of the Netherlands. Lizzie and Eleanor had another excellent start and led early but had to dig deeper to hold off a tenacious challenge. They crossed the line 1¼ lengths ahead, earning a place in the final with the faster semi time.
Final (1615): KSRV Njord of the Netherlands awaited. Both crews blasted off the start line, neck and neck at the island. Inch by inch, Lizzie and Eleanor edged ahead into what was becoming a really strong headwind – half a length at Fawley, one length by halfway. With the water turning messy and every stroke tricky, Lizzie expertly lowered the rate a bit, while maintaining a really strong press through the stroke, backed resolutely by Eleanor, just 17, but rowing like a veteran. Into the final 250m, they held firm through the choppy water, crossing two lengths clear to take gold.
