Team Filippi had a spectacular day at Henley Royal Regatta, achieving seven wins from a possible 26 events and featuring regularly in other finals as runners-up.
2022 saw a record entry, both domestically and internationally, for Henley Royal Regatta as thousands of competitors flocked to the Oxfordshire countryside to do battle on the 2112m course. Several national teams brought strong contingents, including Team GB, Australia, New Zealand, China and the USA. Alongside those heavy hitters, the intermediate, student and junior clubs were littered with world-class collegiate and U18 programs.
Double Sculls Challenge Cup
Our first win came in the Double Sculls Challenge Cup, as Rowing Australia took the win over a British crew by one third of a length. Cleary and Antill of the Australian national team led at every timing marker and reserved enough energy to hold off a late sprint from Meijer and Haywood of Tideway Scullers School and Nottingham Rowing Club.
The Queen Mother Challenge Cup
Our next win came in Race 8 as the Chinese National Rowing Team defeated a crew from the USA by two lengths. This was a fantastic final from a Filippi perspective as both crews raced in our shells, demonstrating how trusted we are amongst the fastest quad sculls in the world. It was an excellent day for Team China on the sculling side as Race 13 saw their woman take the win over another US crew.
The Wargrave Challenge Cup
Our next win came in Race 9, as Thames Rowing Club reversed their loss in the 2021 Wargrave Challenge Cup to beat Leander by just under two lengths. Thames have enjoyed a spectacular season on the domestic circuit and were convincing victors in our Filippi shell.
The Stonor Challenge Trophy
Race 19 saw Team USA, represented by Reckford and Sechser, overturn an early race lead from their Australian counterparts to win the Stonor Challenge Trophy for Open Women’s Double Sculls. After trailing to both the Barrier and Fawley marker, Team USA put in a stunning second half to scull away from their opposition and win by over two lengths.
Town Challenge Cup
In Race 21, Waiariki Rowing Club of New Zealand turned on the style in the final 500m to surpass a crew from Denmark and win the Town Challenge Cup. In their distinctive black and white Kiwi shell, they won by a length to reinforce the promising rise of New Zealand’s heavyweight sweep contingent.
Our victories were not just confined to the Open events though; Claires Court School were winners in the final of the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup for Junior Women’s Quad Sculls. After sitting just behind Redwood Scullers to the first two timing markers, Claires Court put in an exceptionally mature display to overcome their US opposition and win by just under a length.
Silver Goblets and Nickalls’ Challenge Cup
Our final win came in the Silver Goblets and Nickalls’ Challenge Cup, a race which was touted as one of the most exciting match-ups of the entire Regatta. New Zealand, featuring Macdonald and Mackintosh of Tokyo gold medal fame (also in a Filippi), took on the best of the British in Wynne-Griffith and George of Cambridge University. Despite an impressive start from the British, Macdonald and Mackintosh simply jettisoned the afterburners in the second half to row away and secure a narrow win. This sets up a mouth-watering rematch in Lucerne at World Cup III next weekend.
Team Filippi were delighted to see so many competitors racing in our shells throughout the week at one of the world’s most renowned Regattas. We look forward to continuing to support clubs, schools, universities and national teams through the summer and beyond.
