Exeter's Eight Proceeds to the Semi-Finals at Henley Women's Regatta

June 23, 2007

Exeter's girls crew to race Saturday afternoon

As girls crew prepares for Henley this weekend, spirits are high. "A trip to Henley is a dream come true for all of us here in England," says Jessica '07, co-captain of the crew team during her senior year at Exeter and a member of the senior four crew. "We are proven racers, who love to row and love to row to the best of our abilities."

Exeter will compete in two Henley events. The senior four will race against school and college fours with coxswain, competing for the Frank Harry Cup. This crew consists of: (cox) Andrea Nortey '07, (stroke) Catherine Morris '07, (#3) Anna Johnson '07, (#2) Catherine Lucy '07 and (bow) Jessica Flakne '07. Their first round is Saturday, June 23, at 2:06 p.m., facing off against University of London Women's Boat Club (U.K.). Two more elimination rounds follow, with the final race taking place Sunday at 4:10 p.m.

Exeter's eight team is entered in the Junior Eight Event for school crews from the U.K. and U.S., competing for the Peabody Cup. They will have their first race on Saturday at 5:34 p.m. against the winner of a previous race between Tabor Academy B (U.S.) and King’s School Worcester (U.K.). After one more elimination round, the final junior eight race takes place Sunday at 4:30 p.m. The junior eight rowers are: (cox) Hannah Woodruff '07, (stroke) Allison Courtin '08, (#7) Rory Erickson-Kulas '08, (#6) Erin Metcalf '09, (#5) Elizabeth McDermott '08, (#4) Katrina Regan '08, (#3) Rebecca Kisner '08, (#2) Nancy McKinstry '08 and (bow) Catherine McDermott '08. The girls junior eight has already garnered the Royal Military Academy Challenge Cup at Reading Amateur Regatta. They are poised as a favorite heading into the Junior Eight Event at Henley.

A Bit of History
Exeter last competed at Henley in 2004, when the girls and boys teams traveled to the UK accompanied by current crew coaches Lawrence Smith and Becky Moore, and then girls coach Chandra Glick. That 2004 trip made lasting impressions on the current team, says Jessica. "Some of the seniors have been thinking about the possibility of a return showing at Henley since prep year," she says. "We've been listening to stories of the 2004 Henley trip, and gazing at photos in the Exeter boathouse, for four years. For all of us here now, there has been great anticipation for this trip."

The Henley Women's Regatta launched 20 years ago in an effort to promote crew as a women's sport. The regatta has taken off, with a record 300 entrants this year, representing seven countries. Exeter's crews are in a small group of 11 who have come from the U.S. and Canada to compete.

The race course is 1,500 meters along a straight section of the Thames, which accommodates only two crews at a time. Junior-level competitors are typically 18 and under. Senior-level competitors come from colleges, universities, rowing clubs and elite national teams. Some of Exeter's athletes are classed as senior competitors due to their age. Both classes race in singles, pairs, doubles, fours, quads and eights.

Preparing for the Trip
Jessica describes the complex planning for the UK trip. "Planning began early in the school year. We anticipated a strong crew for the spring season, since everyone who had been on the winning boat for the New Englands and went to Nationals in 2006 was returning for the 2007 season. We pushed ourselves hard in order to earn our title of New England Champions once again. Because we won New Englands, we were given a bid at Nationals again. We squeezed this competition into our schedule before heading to the UK. Unlike the other American crews competing here this coming weekend, we never took time to back out of our racing mode.

"Our trip thus far has been a lovely one," adds Jessica. "We're staying with some wonderful English host families in a beautiful, quaint town. It has been fantastic to see the focus of the group remain on the goal we set when we decided to make the trip. We came to work hard, improve, and have fun rowing at a more elite level. Thus far, we have done just that. I imagine that our results this weekend will reflect our hard work and dedication."

Interested in learning more?

Check http://www.exetercrew.com/ for results from Henley over the weekend...

Review events and races in the Henley Women’s Regatta...

Read yesterday's Lion's Eye about the girls' preparations for Henley...

Watch the girls cross the finish line in their win at Reading Amateur Regatta...

Learn about the Exeter Girls Eight win at Reading Amateur Regatta...

Check out Exeter’s 4th place finish in the USRowing Youth National Championships…