First races for 2015 Squads: Head of the Charles and British Championships

The Boat Race squads each got their first taste of competition of the season over the weekend, racing in Boston (USA) and Nottingham.

Three of the four Boat Race Squads were involved in racing at the Head of the Charles Regatta. Held in Boston, Massachusetts, the 3 mile (4,800m) Head Race hosts crews from all around the world and attracts some of the biggest names in the sport. The course passes several landmarks including the Harvard University Boat House, providing several steering challenges for the coxes along the way.

Used as early preparation for this year’s BNY Mellon Boat Races, the squads have now been together nearly six weeks. BNY Mellon, title partner of the Boat Races, are also presenting partner at the Head of the Charles.

The selected crews drew upon a wealth of Boat Race and US experience, who proved to be more than a match for the Boston competition. Oxford University Women’s Boat Club finished fourth in the Championship Eights event behind the Women’s Great Eight (a composite crew of the world’s best scullers), the US Women’s International crew and the University of Virginia. Featuring five returning Blues from the 2014 Newton Women’s Boat Race, including the recently graduated cox, Erin Wysocki-Jones, Oxford opened strongly and paced their race well to finish in 16:28. It was the first occasion that double Olympic champion Caryn Davies has worn dark blue, sitting in the stroke seat.

Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club selected an eight with 5 returning Blues, a Blondie oarswoman and 2014 Goldie cox Rosemary Ostfeld. In the stroke seat was the American influence of Daphne Martschenko, formerly of Stanford University. With a steady opening split, the younger Cambridge crew increased the pace markedly throughout to show some form over the Head Race distance, finishing nineteenth.

In the men’s events, Cambridge University Boat Club competed in the Championship Fours Event. With a crew of three returning Blues, a 2014 Henley winner and former Leander cox Katie Klavenes they finished second, pipping the University of Washington into third. Having taken an early lead, Cambridge settled onto pace amongst a competitive field finishing well ahead of some top US universities.

Cath Bishop, Olympic Silver medallist, former Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club oarswoman and current club Chair, stroked a Molesey crew to a course record in the Women’s Masters Eights. Beating the course record by a huge 38 seconds, the crew started strongly and didn’t look back, winning the event comfortably.

Back in the UK, windy weather once again greeted the athletes to the British Rowing Championships in Nottingham. All four clubs were featured as the Boat Race squads took on some of the top British internationals, clubs and universities.

The leading result from the British Championships was from Oxford University Boat Club’s men’s four which finished second to claim Silver, only five seconds adrift of a Molesey crew containing three of the four Brits that became World Champions in the same boat class earlier this year. Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club also returned home with medals: a Gold in the U23 women’s double and a Bronze in the U23 coxless four.

Cambridge University Boat Club claimed fourth and sixth place finishes respectively in the U23 men’s coxless four and the U23 men’s double whilst Oxford University Women’s Boat Club achieved a 6th place finish in the women’s quad. A final result for the Boat Race squads was a 7th place finish for Cambridge’s women in the coxless four.

Head of the Charles Entries:

Oxford

Women’s Championship Eights

Cox: Erin Wysocki-Jones
Str: Caryn Davies
7: Maddy Badcott
6: Emily Reynolds
5: Nadine Graedel Iberg
4: Anastasia Chitty
3: Chris Heemskerk
2: Lauren Kedar
Bow: Maxie Scheske

Cambridge

Women’s Championship Eights

Cox: Rosemary Ostfeld
Str: Daphne Martschenko
7: Isabella Vyvyan
6: Hannah Roberts
5: Caroline Reid
4: Claire Watkins
3: Catherine Foot
2: Holly Game
Bow: Fanny Belais

Men’s Championship Fours (coxed event)

Cox: Katie Klavenes
Str: Matt Jackson
3: Josh Hooper
2: Henry Hoffstot
Bow: Jasper Holst

British Championship Entries

Oxford

Men’s Four

Str: Constantine Louloudis
3: Will Geffen
2: Mike DiSanto
Bow: Iain Mandale

Women’s Quad

Str: Amber de Vere
3: Ruth Siddorn
2: Alice Carrington-Windo
Bow: Caroline Greves

Cambridge

U23 Men’s Four

Str: Piers Kasas
3: Charles Fisher
2: Angus Knights
Bow: Felix Newman

U23 Men’s Double

Str: William Warr
Bow: Christopher Black

Women’s Four

Str: Emma Clifton
3: Christina Ostacchini
2: Sarah Lucas
Bow: Patricia Smith

U23 Women’s Four

Str: Ameila Perrin
3: Catherine Aitchison
2: Natasha Branch
Bow: Ella Barnard

U23 Women’s Double
Str: Melissa Wilson
Bow: Holly Hill