8 ROWING: Northwich crews race against each other at Henley

What? Henley Royal Regatta

When? June 29

Where? Henley-on-Thames

Northwich Rowing Club has a fond connection with Henley Royal Regatta, the most prestigious event on their sport’s domestic calendar.

Three crews qualified for the 2016 edition and two of those, both junior men’s quads, were pitted against each other in a draw for the first round of the Fawley Challenge Cup.

It had never happened previously, and is unlikely to again.

George Lawton stroked a boat including Harry Taylor, Kevin Dudley and Greg Murphy to victory by a length over club-mates that had come through a qualifier on Friday to make the main draw.

George Crouchley, Rhys Coffey, Matt Radford and Lawrence Williams were on board, and together they halved a gap that had grown to two lengths in testing conditions on the water.

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Our sports writer remembers:

“Nobody quite knew how to feel, although pride was certainly in what was a heady mix.

“However anybody with even the slightest of interest in rowing from Northwich couldn’t fail to have been exhilarated by the sight two green and gold-clad crews attempting to outdo each other on one of the most famous stretches of water in the world.

“The result was as expected, but Northwich’s second boat kept their clubmates honest in the closing stages.

“To those that don’t follow the sport, it can take some explaining as to just what an incredible achievement it is for a volunteer-run club to have three boats qualify for the regatta.

“The scale of the event, which runs from Wednesday through to Sunday, has to be seen to be believed.

“We should never become complacent about Northwich boats, or those from their neighbours at Grange School, being part of the main draw – the standard is so high.”

Northwich Guardian:

Northwich Rowing Club crews raced against each other on the famous course at Henley Royal Regatta in June.