Success at Henley in the Visitors Challenge Cup

Imperial and Kingston rowing club join forces to make winning team - News

Tuesday 15 July 2008
By Naomi Weston

Despite the rain this year at Henley, Imperial College rowers scored a joint victory with Kingston Rowing Club, winning the Visitors’ Challenge Cup on the last day of the Royal Regatta.

The team, made up of two Imperial students and two from Kingston, beat Martyrs Boat Club and Christ Church, Oxford, by one and a quarter lengths on Sunday 6 July.

Simon Hislop, a fifth year medic, and George Whittaker, an alumnus of the College, made up the Imperial half of the team. Steve Trapmore, Imperial’s new Head of Rowing, said:

“We have been working very hard on the cohesion of the crew after defeats at the Met Regatta and Marlow Regatta. The first race at the Royal Regatta on Friday was an opportunity to test the framework. On Sunday the crew inched away with every push through the roaring crowd in the stewards enclosure to take an impressive victory.”

He added: “It's not the end of the season just yet, but I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved for their support over the last six months.”

The Temple Challenge Cup team

The Visitors’ Challenge Cup, a coxless four event, is open to all boat clubs and students from academic institutions throughout the world.

The other Imperial race finalist at this year's Regatta was Mathilde Pauls, a medical undergraduate, who made it through to the final of the Princess Royal Challenge Cup, a women's sculling event, but lost by three and a half lengths.

Other Imperial crews who took part this year included crews in the Prince Albert Challenge Cup, the Temple Challenge Cup, and the Princess Grace Challenge Cup.

For more information on rowing and sport at Imperial please visit the website: www.imperial.ac.uk/sports