Australians secure semi-final berths at #HRR25 amid challenging conditions

By Chris McCarthy with the Australian Rowing Team at the Henley Royal Regatta

The Australian Rowing Team have delivered thrilling racing on day five of Henley Royal Regatta, securing four semi-final berths with strong quarter-finals.

The Men’s Double, Pair, and Quad, and Women’s Single will join the Men’s and Women’s Eights who race for the first time this week on Saturday.

Laura Gourley OLY delivered a race for the ages in her first of the regatta for the Princess Royal Challenge Cup.

Despite falling to a deficit of three lengths at the Fawley (halfway) marker, Gourley brought herself back into contention with a determined sprint in front of the crowds to defeat Canada’s Shannon Kennedy by two lengths.

Gourley attributed her poise on the unsettled Thames waters to her time sculling on Iron Cove at UTS Haberfield Rowing Club.

“It didn’t go to plan in the first half. So I just tried to stay relaxed and make a move every ten strokes," Gourley said. 

"Then when the opportunity came with a bit of wash I just gave it a crack” said Gourley.

The Men’s Double of Oscar McGuinness and Mitchell Reinhard opened the team’s racing with a start to finish victory over Great Britain’s development combination of James Gare and Tobias Schroder.

The South Australian combination see the event as an opportunity to build upon the foundations they’ve set up throughout their European campaign.

“It’s a much more personal event, going down the course one on one. At Henley it’s almost like being at home doing pieces against each other, it’s get out in front, go hard and find out what you’re capable of doing.” Reinhard said.

The Town Challenge Cup for Women’s Fours saw Australia field a young combination of Eleanor Price, Taylor Caudle, Emily Sheppard, and Katherine Easton.

The Aussies faced University of London (UL), a crew with a mixture of Olympic and World Championship experience.

Australia stayed within half a length of UL until the Stewards Enclosures, where the British crew pulled away in blustery conditions to record a margin of one length.

Morning racing for the Australian team was rounded out by Men’s Pair Mitch Salisbury and Nicholas Smith racing for the Silver Goblets and Nickalls’ Challenge Cup, who took on their first race against the Netherlands following a bye on Thursday.

In a performance that echoed Gourley’s just minutes earlier, the Australians were led out of the start but halted the Dutch progress before a decisive move set them up to cross the line first with a margin of one length.

Smith reflected that the race was a good opportunity to add to their World Rowing Cup learnings.

“In the World Cups we found we didn’t have too much go at the end, so today was a really good opportunity to try and eke out some more efficiency through the middle of the race and it worked out in the end," Smith said. 

The Men’s Quad rounded out Henley Friday with a commanding victory over Reading University.

Nicholas Blackman, Johnson Daubney, Jackson Free, and Alexander Rossi were grateful for the opportunity to rehearse racing on the unique Henley course.

“We’ve stepped on through the World Cups, and Henley is a good way for us to hone in on our focuses and find our rhythm in pretty chaotic conditions” Rossi said. 

Australians Bronwyn Cox OLY and Georgia Patten OLY completed their first round of racing in the Hambleden Pairs Challenge Cup with relative ease, defeating an experienced German combination, advancing to Saturday’s semi-finals.

Kinross Wolaroi became the sole junior crew to qualify for the weekend, delivering a stunning victory over favoured Latymer Upper to advance in the Prince Phillip Challenge Trophy.

Stay tuned for a preview of all the action in store on day six of Henley Royal Regatta.