By Mr McEwen (Assistant Head Rowing Coach)

On Saturday 20th June, the BGS 1st VIII and 2nd 4x- headed to Henley Women’s Regatta (HWR), the premier women’s regatta in the United Kingdom, held on the world famous boomed course in Henley-on-Thames. 

There is always a step up in the level of competition from National Schools to HWR and so both crews have been training hard to find as much speed as possible in the last month. The format of racing was a 1400m time trial in the morning from which the top 16 crews qualified for and were seeded into a 1v1 knockout draw over a 1500m course. 

Up first was the quad, competing in the Bea Langridge Trophy for Junior 4x- one of the most hotly contested events at the regatta. They raced well showing good progress from training but did not make it through to the next round. Then it was the turn of the 1st VIII, competing in The Peabody Cup for Junior 8+. They had a strong race and came 13th putting them into the knockout draw. For their round of 16 race they drew Sir William Perkins’s School who had come 5th in the TT. After spending the middle of the day trying to keep cool and not expend too much energy it was time for the race, in which BGS pushed SWPS all the way but in the end could not overturn the speed difference. 

Overall, it was a good day out racing, and a great opportunity to get some practice on the same stretch of water that we will be racing on for the Henley Royal Regatta qualifiers TT on the morning of Saturday 27th June. With the 1st VIII racing at 9.05am for a spot in the main draw of the Prince Philip Challenge Trophy, and the 2nd 4x- racing at 10.30am for a spot in the main draw of the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup.

View photos here.