Two Purdue Crew boats race in world’s premier regatta

Purdue Crew recently raced two boats in the Henley Royal Regatta competition, the world’s premier non-Olympic rowing event. The competition began on July 3 at Henley-on-Thames, a town in Oxfordshire, England.

Purdue Crew traveled with 14 athletes, 12 rowers, two coxswain and two coaches. The team raced in two of the challenges, the Temple Challenge Cup and the Prince Albert Challenge Cup. The Temple Challenge Cup boats use eight rowers and a coxswain, and the Prince Albert Challenge Cup use four rowers and a coxswain.

“Participation this year at the Henley Royal Regatta is the first time Purdue Crew men’s team has participated in the crew’s history, which is celebrating its 70th year this fall. One of the reasons to participate this year was to celebrate Purdue’s 150th Giant Leaps ‘firsts,’” said Purdue Crew head coach Dave Kucik.

Within the Temple Challenge Cup, 64 teams registered, 32 of which advanced to compete in the cup. Purdue Crew and 24 other crews advanced by steward selection. The seven remaining spaces in the cup were determined by qualifying races. Purdue earned the bye from the qualifying races due to medaling at major U.S. collegiate rowing regattas — silver at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Regatta, bronze at the Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta and the American Collegiate Rowing Association Regatta, and gold at the San Diego Crew Classic — and advanced to the round of 32. In its first race, the team advanced past Bath University by 2 1/2 lengths. Purdue Crew advanced to the round of 16, where it lost on July 4 to Amsterdamsche Sudenten Roeivereeniging Nereus of the Netherlands.

The four rowers and coxswain competing in the Prince Albert Challenge Cup were one of 49 original entries. Twelve crews, including Purdue, advanced by steward selection. Four other crews advanced from qualifying races to total 16 crews racing in the cup. Purdue Crew lost to Cambridge University in its first race.

To become eligible to race in the Henley Royal Regatta, teams must submit an intent to race and be accepted after applications have been reviewed. The regatta is a single-elimination tournament-style competition where two teams race one mile and 550 yards, and the winner advances. Most of Purdue's regatta experience features multi-lanes where advancement is through heat, repechage, semifinal and final races.

The regatta is a world-renowned competition with over a century of history.

“This year was the 180th edition of the regatta,” said Henri LaLiberte, coxswain for the eight-oared crew and the 2019-20 Crew president. “The greatest rowers of all time have competed for the same trophies that we raced for. The feeling of contributing to that history is unshakable when you’re on the water,”

Both cups Purdue competed in were for male student teams. Other events at the Henley Royal Regatta include a mixed crew event, a men’s open event, a women’s open event, an intermediate men’s event, a club men’s event, a junior men’s event and a junior women’s event. In total there are 24 challenge cups within the eight events. Women from Purdue Crew will compete in the 2020 Women's Henley Regatta.

Writer: Madison Sanneman, 317-903-5642, msannema@purdue.edu

Source: Dave Kucik, dwk@purdue.edu