Henley Women’s Regatta

The Cantabs women enjoyed a spectacular weekend of racing at Henley Women’s, taking their largest ever contingent to race with a total of 38 rowers, 4 coxes and 4 coaches. This was the largest HWR entry Cantabs has ever enjoyed, qualifying all 7 crews, more than any other Cambridge club.

There was success all round, with some really strong performances and tight racing across the weekend including making the final of the Aspirational 8+.

The senior squad crews took to the water on Friday morning for their time trials, and in an impressive feat every single crew progressed to the side-by-side races. The Development 4+ and Aspirational 2x both had particularly large fields to beat out for qualification, with 29 crews vying for 16 spots each. While the Aspirational 8+ entries did not have to qualify as there were only 14 crews entered, the A crew had a particularly successful first run down the course to secure themselves a bye through the heats straight into the quarter finals. 

The ‘Cheese’ 8+ were up first in the heats, taking on Putney Town in the Aspirational 8+ event for their chance to race the Cantabs A crew the following day. The crew of Gill Cooper, Judith Weik, Laura Rozing, Claudia Catacchio, Emily Kempin, Janeska de Jonge, Indica James, Celeste Pagniello and cox Nordin Catic were ultimately outgunned by the Tideway-based club’s top sweep crew. Considering half of this crew only learned to row in the past year or so, this was a great achievement.

I never thought racing at HWR was something I’d ever get to do but I’m so happy I did. Thanks to this amazing bunch of people! I couldn’t have done it without you!

Cantabs B Aspirational 8+ 4-seat, Emily Kempin

In their fist side-by-side race of the weekend, the ‘Hunter’ crew of Ellie Darlington, Rebecca Smith, Katie Brown, Elena Williams, Molly Shaw, Becca Hatton, Gloria Jansen, Chiara Avancini and Callum Mantell lined up against Putney Town.

With fresher legs than their opponents, the Cantabs 8+ executed a clean start and opened up a comfortable lead of 4L, progressing to Sunday’s semi-finals where they faced Vesta’s A crew. Another powerful start put the Cantabs crew into the lead and, whilst Vesta put in a strong final sprint, cox Callum Mantell stayed calm and lead the crew to a win by ½L.

This performance secured a place in the final against a very impressive crew from Tideway Scullers who had been the same speed as their Championship 8+ at Met Regatta. In another Cantabs-TSS final, unlike in 2017 the verdict didn’t fall in favour of the Cantabs crew who, despite leaving everything they had on the course, fell short of victory by just over 1L. 

The Aspirational 4- of Jennie Astley, Maria Stroyakovki, Emily Hillan and Gemma White drew a quick crew from London RC in their heat, who had recently recorded a solid A final finish at Marlow Regatta. The Cantabs crew went out strong off the start, but the pushes made by the London quartet were too much to match. The London crew went on to make the final of the event.

We had so much fun racing at HWR, which was a first for some of the crew. We really wanted to qualify and we did. We put down some of our best rowing and had a brilliant weekend, even after we got knocked out and cheered on teammates.

Aspirational 4- crew stroke, Jennie Astley

The Aspirational 2x of Rosa Mueller and Vanessa Lockyer charged to a win in their heat over Mortlake. The Cantabs duo put in a very cool and collected performance, underrating their opposition and taking the win by 1L to progress to the quarter finals where they came up against a crew made up of two of this year’s winning Blondie crew from Cambridge University. 

Hoping to repeat the success of their heat, Rosa and Vanessa put up a good fight, but the strength of the CUW pairing showed, and the light blue double went on to make the final later in the regatta.

With only 1s separating the two crews in the time trial, the Development 4+ put in a gritty performance against Norwich Rowing Club in their heat. With winds picking up, there was a blade clash off the start and the Cantabs crew of Abi Bartlett, Izzy Rhodes, Lin Slapakova, Cam Lardy and cox Isabel Nimmo fought well to get back on terms with their opposition. In a tense and exciting race down the course, the two crews drew level, with Norwich ultimately mounting a charge into the finish line and taking the win by 1L.

After a last minute crew change earlier in the week, the Aspirational 4x of Gemma Douglas, ChiYing Chen, Evelyn Svingen and Sue Hakenbeck came up against GB start centre Hartpury University in their heat. While the Cantabs crew put in their best performance to date, it was sadly no match for the Hartpury crew, who were later disqualified from the event.

The Hills Road Junior 8+ raced for seeding on Saturday morning and were later drawn against Putney High School. Cantabs raced well, though finished 1L down on their opponents.

Whether you’re a relative newcomer to rowing or have ambitions to compete at the highest levels of women’s club rowing and are interested in joining the Cantabs Senior Women, please visit their squad page or contact the women’s captain for more information.

Henley Masters Regatta

Four Cantabs crews raced at Henley Masters Regatta in a mixture of sculling and sweep boats.

Cecile Auty Jacklin raced in her composite Women’s Masters E 2x from the British Masters Championships, making it to the quarter finals. Cecile doubled up, racing in her single and made it to the final of the Women’s Masters E 1x but unfortunately was forced to scratch before the final, meaning that the event was won by Carole Mills from our neighbours at Champion of the Thames.

David Richardson raced as part of Nemesis, the alumni club of Manchester University, and had a good race in the semi-finals of the Masters C 2x unfortunately losing to a crew from London RC.

The Intermediate Women sent a Women’s Masters B 8+ to race this year, making it to the semi-finals but coming up against a strong crew from St Andrews who had the better of them over the 1k course. Jenny Bartley, Sally Hames, Debbie Morley, Emma Gordon, Sue Waterhouse, Rebecca Cicolecchia and cox Maria Chukanova from this crew will next race at Town Bumps.

If you’re interested in finding out more about our Intermediate Women’s Squad, please visit their squad page or contact the women’s captain for more information.