Cantabs was the only Cambridge club which qualified both men’s and women’s crews for 2023’s Henley Royal Regatta, with successful qualification in the Wargrave W8+ and Thames M8+.
At the Qualifying Races, the Cantabs Senior Men sent an 8+ and a 4- to race for spots in the Thames and Wyfold, after a good summer of multi-lane regattas. The 8+ raced well to qualify for the regatta, but the 4- unfortunately failed to qualify in a strong field.
In the first round, Cantabs drew Lea in the Thames 8+, who they had finished within 1 second of at Met and Marlow. The race proved to be a thrilling one, with a change in leads which kept the crowds on their feet. Unfortunately, Lea crossed the finish line first.
Cantabs entered two women’s eights to the regatta, with the A crew prequalifying and the B crew taking part in Qualifiers. Cantabs B – which consisted mainly of athletes who had raced in the 8+ for Henley Women’s Regatta – had their best row yet, but unfortunately weren’t able to make the qualifying cut off. This crew of relatively new athletes to the sport will be looking forward to coming back next year and overturning this result!
By prequalifying before rowing together as a full line-up, Cantabs A had a total of 9 days together before racing! The crew consisted of the Henley Women’s 4- and 2-, joined by some athletes who weren’t able to race at HWR this year. Gelling quickly, but with minimal prep, the crew knew they would have an exciting race against Mortlake who had come through qualifiers to the regatta. The Cantabs women also produced a thrilling race, where Mortlake got the better of them in the second 500m, only for Cantabs to put in an epic push in the final quarter of the race, just coming up short at the finish, leaving Mortlake to progress to the next round.
Cantabs is the only Cambridge club to have qualified women’s club crews for HRR, and one of only 6 clubs to have qualified for the Wargrave every year since the event was introduced.
Well done to all crews. Some will be back in Henley next weekend for Henley Masters Regatta!
