Henley Royal Regatta ¦ Bedford School v Oxford Brookes 'A' ¦ Temple Challenge Cup

The gruelling Henley trials is an opportunity for younger years to prove their worth, which brings joy to some but equal disappointment to others. It was at this point where we gained effectively a new boat, as the order was radically changed. It was at Marlow International Regatta that we discovered the new found speed by Hampton and the Eton had remained unchanged. Then in the final we managed to get a good start jumping us straight into the lead, one which we held against Norwich’s 1st VIII to the half way mark, then managing to lose our lead over 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th in the last 250 meters of the race – as frustrating as this was it proved to us that we had what it took to qualify for the Temple Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, and that our time trial capabilities were unmatched. Come the day of Henley Royal Qualifiers, we practiced our start against Star Club – managing to secure a 1 length lead at the ¼ mile. With Star being expected to qualify for the Thames Challenge Cup, we knew that it would still have to be the race of our lives. So cometh the final hour and at 16:40 we charge down that famous course, with the boat being on a knife edge of speed and efficiency we got to the end. Later, at exactly 18:00 the following words were heard over the Tannoy “The following crews have qualified for the Temple Challenge Cup, this list is read out in alphabetical
order… The following crews have qualified: Amsterdamsche Studenten Roeivereeniging Nereus ‘B’, Netherlands, Bed…” at this moment a small section in the boating area erupted into roars of joy and it took what felt like a few minutes before the announcer could continue with the list. We had qualified for the Temple Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, the most prestigious regatta in the world, a feat which Bedford School has never done until then. It was only until the following day at midday when Sir Steve Redgrave C.B.E. read out the draw and announced that Bedford Schl. would race Oxford Brookes Univ. ‘A’ that we realised we would now have to race on national television against the favourites to win and holders of event. On a Sunday training session at Henley, we learned that at the qualifiers we managed to qualify in the position of 9th and as the fastest school boy crew. So, with true Bedford School spirit we knuckled down and aimed to put on a good show for the spectators for the Tuesday. Acknowledgements for Dr W. Suthers, Mr S. Colliver and Mr J. Foster who coached us to this incredible achievement, also to our rivals/competitors, Eton College, who cheered us out of the boat tent when we came to race Oxford Brookes ‘A’ with the highest of spirits. As commentated by Mathew Brittin “Qualifying was this 2nd VIII’s real race, so they will just be enjoying this moment here”.

Temple 1st VIII H.R.R. 2024 – (Bow) E. A. Newton-Walters, M. S. Moretto, A. J. G. Deane, S. A. H.
Breed, A. J. Harrison, C. Rahwangi Gough, W. J. A. Cave, (Stroke) B. P. J. Williams, (Cox) D. G. Shirley