Girls Crew to Compete at Henley Women’s Regatta this Weekend

June 21, 2007

Varsity girls crew during a relaxed moment on the Squamscott

The Exeter girls crew, with their first place finish from Reading Amateur Regatta fresh in hand, is preparing for the Henley Women’s Regatta. They are one of 11 teams from the US and Canada scheduled to compete, out of a total of more than 300 crews from seven countries. The regatta takes place at Henley-on-Thames, UK, just prior to the Henley Royal Regatta.

“We are finding the experience to be fantastic,” explains Sally Morris, the girls crew coach who is traveling with the team. Using borrowed equipment, the Exonians are seeing new ways of rowing, as well as enjoying the exhilaration of competing in one of the most famed rowing locations in the world. “The girls are learning a lot about different rowing styles,” Morris adds. “We’re seeing the extended layback, the slow hands and quick legs, the finesse of scullers turned sweep, in addition to seeing people who use our style of smooth acceleration out of bow.” For the coxswains, there are many challenges to racing on the Thames River. “The coxswains have to keep their wits about them as the river gets more and more crowded each day,” Morris explains. “The course is set with booms, starting and finishing stations, and temporary docks at Remenham Farm, where we keep our boats during the regatta.”

Two teams are representing Exeter in the UK. The senior four crew consists of: (cox) Andrea Nortey '07, (stroke) Catherine Morris '07, (#3) Anna Johnson '07, (#2) Catherine Lucy '07 and (bow) Jessica Flakne '07. 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.

Camaraderie among the teams has been high in the UK regattas, says Morris. “With the strong showing from the girls eight at the Reading Amateur Regatta, we’re now one of the favored teams. We’re receiving kind compliments on our boat from coaches. Our girls helped the St. Paul's crew off the dock in their event at Reading, and they carried our oars for our event. The relationship is collegial here, rather than adversarial. Andover's coach chatted with us for about twenty minutes last night, and the Middlesex crew is mingling with us, too. The towpath is full of friendly, supportive faces, and it feels a bit like a foreign reunion.”

Preparing for Henley is a serious task, with two-hour twice daily practice runs. “Morning workouts are devoted to hard practice and full pressure pieces, while the afternoon is spent on recovery and drills designed to sharpen their stroke,” explains Morris. “In the four, the goals include style unity, lengthening the stroke, and equal power at the catch. In the eight, goals include getting the blades even closer to the water than they already are, pulling through even longer to the finish, and maintaining the target stroke rating for the races. With 14 athletes, the midday time is quickly spent with showering, lunch, a nap, and a bit of sightseeing.”

For some of the girls, the Henley regatta will be the last time they row with fellow Exonians. “The seniors in the four are having one last good row together before departing from this closely knit team,” says Morris. “The girls in the eight, with the exception of the coxswain, are returning to race for Exeter next year. They are gaining invaluable experience. For a group of girls that have given so much of their hearts to rowing for Exeter, this opportunity has been a wonderful gift. They are aware of their fortune to be at Henley, and they are making the most of every day.”

Henley Women’s Regatta takes place from June 22 to June 24. Exeter’s four is entered in the Senior Four Event for both school and college fours with coxswain, competing for the Frank Harry Cup. Their first round is Saturday June 23 at approximately 2:00 pm, faced against University of London Women’s Boat Club (UK). Exeter's eight is entered in the Junior Eight Event for school crews from the UK and US, competing for the Peabody Cup. They will have their first race on Saturday at approximately 5:30 pm against the winner of a previous race between Tabor Academy B (Marion, MA) and King’s School Worcester (UK). For results of the races, check http://www.exetercrew.com/, a website maintained by an ’07 Exeter graduate and member of the boys crew team.

This post-season trip to England is funded entirely by contributions from the athletes' parents and many generous PEA rowing alumni/ae. The Exeter girls crew is getting on-site help, including advice and spare parts, from UK-based organizations Mortlake Anglian Alpha Boat Club and Headington School.

The girls crew team is accompanied in the UK by Keith Hereford, PEA boatman, and Sally Morris, team coach and instructor of classical languages. Becky Moore, instructor of English, also coaches girls crew.

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...

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…