The quintessentially British banks of the River Thames witnessed by a day of intense competition on Day 1 of the Henley Royal Regatta. Not least by our 1st eight, who gave the mighty Eton a run for their money, but also our 2nd eight, who put up a valiant fight against the royal event’s favourite to win, Oxford Brookes University.
This is the first time in living memory that two Bedford crews (1st and 2nd eights) have qualified for Henley, and the school community came out in true Bedford style to support them.
Read: Community Spirit at Henley
1st Eight battle Against Eton
Despite an 80-year gap since their last victory against Eton College, the Bedford 1st eight put up a courageous fight against such a formidable opponent. Whilst they did not quite make the finish line first, the pressure they applied to Eton showed true grit and determination, and a commitment to excellence that made everyone proud.
Racing for the coveted Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup against a backdrop of a loud and proud crowd, the Bedford boys refused to let Eton, who were racing on their home ground, pull away and kept a strong and steady stroke rate of 35 throughout the race.
As the race progressed, the Bedford boys applied pressure on Eton, each stroke inching them a little bit closer. Eton’s flustered response indicated the intensity of the battle and the nail-biting second half had the crowd whipped up into hysteria from the banks. At the finish line, Bedford narrowly missed victory by just a third of a length – a testament to their tenacity, skill and competitive spirit.
The commentators’ praise was well-deserved. Commentating from the box, Camilla Hadland-Horrocks stated,
“Eton will have had the absolute fright scared out of them with this performance – a really well executed race from Bedford.”
2nd Eight Face the Regatta’s Favourite – Oxford Brookes University
This was to be the Bedford 2nd Eight’s first ever experience at Henley. With only four 2nd eights out of 72 qualifying to battle it out for the Temple Challenge Cup, this very talented crew, eager to prove themselves, had already done just that by qualifying.
Faced with the powerhouse that is Oxford Brookes University, the Bedford boys gave it their absolute all. With nothing to lose, and the last race of the season, they put every last drop of might in and raced hard. The support from the banks was deafening as everyone cheered on the underdogs.
However, the bigger and more experienced Oxford Brookes Crew were just too powerful for the boys and beat them to the finish line.
Despite not winning the race, a wonderful shot of the boys made it to the top of the pile in the BBC’s Henley report.
What a day for the Bedford crews – all boys competing should be proud of their performances. It is moments like these that will be remembered forever and will inspire the younger boys in the years below.
Assistant Head Mr Ayden Duffy, who went to support the boys, explained afterwards, “We were incredibly proud of our two rowing crews and their performances at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta this week. Their remarkable achievements were a testament to the time, dedication and hard work they invested throughout the year. Our boys, along with the exceptional coaching staff, showed unwavering commitment and perseverance, embodying the true spirit of our school. Their outstanding efforts have set a high standard, and we look forward to their continued success.”
