Drexel University Athletics
Dragon Dispatches: A Day at the Races
6/22/2014 12:16:00 PM | Women's Rowing
By: Dr. Eric Zillmer, Director of Athletics
"The weather is with us," like the Brits like to say. Not a cloud in the sky on this Saturday morning. Henley today was a picture-perfect English countryside oasis on the River Thames. But no "lie in" (sleeping in) today, our Drexel double competed at 9:02 a.m. (on Saturday) against an Australian team in the senior division. "Senior" does not mean senior in college, but senior as in-the-prime-of-your-life and this Australian team looked very experienced.
If you think you have got the "chops" you come to Henley and line up. No other rowing race compares to the Henley Regatta. Like a bobsled run, it is a straight chute down the Thames into the heart of the quaint town of Henley. Races are held two boats at a time - one against the other - with floating wooden beams enclosing the course. A steam engine powered launch follows the crews with race referees and fans onboard. Spectators are offered unbelievable views from the banks of the river. The racing shells are so close that one can actually see into the boats and hear the often-desperate commands of the coxswain urging the crews to go faster yet. It is a spectacular Ascot-like sporting event, second only to the Olympics. In fact, Olympic rowing has been held twice at Henley.
The Henley Women's Regatta race course
Drexel … Australia … Attention! … GO!
And so the Drexel pair went off. Our team looked good; unfazed and in rhythm. But the Australians were strong and pulled ahead by half a length at Temple Island and won by two lengths. After the race our ladies looked disappointed (an understatement), but in short time they will realize that they belong to a very select group of 1,600 competitors this year -- the largest women's Henley ever, including 36 international teams, that can for the rest of their lives say, "I raced at Henley." In fact, our varsity double Barbara McKenna and Stephanie Thomas belong to an even smaller group of competitors that advanced at Henley and came back to row another day to compete. Well done!
The Drexel varsity pair, with steam umpire launch following
In the afternoon our Dad Vail silver-medal varsity eight took on the U23 French National team, which was assembled from six different cities in France. I watched the race at the starting line, which is so close to the shore that you can basically have a personal conversation with the crews. The French boat was so close to the shore that I could listen in on their pre-race chatter, all in French naturally. I thought it was so cool that our team from Drexel is competing in such an international context.
Everything is about the start at Henley. The women's race is a shorter 1,500 yards and therefore more like a sprint. The French boat jumped on the Dragons a bit and pulled ahead by a "seat" at Temple Island. Our varsity eight looked absolutely fantastic in this race, but as they were fading from my view I had to wait for the phone call from the finish line five minutes later to see how we did … we lost by a length!
The Drexel varsity eight battling the French National Team at Temple Island
At the Henley Women's Regatta there is no second, no bronze medal, just knockout competition to find out the simple truth . . . Who Is The Fastest? And so our incredible season, that included a Dad Vail team title, came to a close. Over the course of the weekend we competed against the English, Australians, Irish and the French … it felt like I was at the Olympics!
Drexel has only been to Henley five times, in 1972, 2005, 2010, 2012, and now in 2014. Getting to Henley is a great achievement, both logistically and competitively. I am so proud of our teams and how they fought hard and represented our University with such great class.
Farewell from Henley
I want to thank all of the donors that supported the trip to Henley. I also want to thank all of the parents that made the trip to England. On Friday we had a team, parents, coaches and friends group dinner at the historic Angel pub in Henley; I counted over 55 Drexel supporters in attendance! It was fun catching up with all of the parents and learning more about their incredible daughters. Three alumnae from the 2005 Henley boat also made the trip and it was great to see them competing one year only to come back and cheer on the team some years later. Also thank you to our University administration, including President John Fry and Sr. VP Jim Tucker, who were behind us the whole way. Thanks to Drexel Alumni Relations as well as Aberdeen Asset Management for sponsoring us in London. And finally thanks to the student-athletes themselves as well as the coaching staff under head coach Paul Savell, who are, after all, the most important ingredient in our successful Drexel rowing program.
With very best wishes,
Dr. Eric Zillmer
Check out the previous "Dragon Dispathes" post
"The weather is with us," like the Brits like to say. Not a cloud in the sky on this Saturday morning. Henley today was a picture-perfect English countryside oasis on the River Thames. But no "lie in" (sleeping in) today, our Drexel double competed at 9:02 a.m. (on Saturday) against an Australian team in the senior division. "Senior" does not mean senior in college, but senior as in-the-prime-of-your-life and this Australian team looked very experienced.
If you think you have got the "chops" you come to Henley and line up. No other rowing race compares to the Henley Regatta. Like a bobsled run, it is a straight chute down the Thames into the heart of the quaint town of Henley. Races are held two boats at a time - one against the other - with floating wooden beams enclosing the course. A steam engine powered launch follows the crews with race referees and fans onboard. Spectators are offered unbelievable views from the banks of the river. The racing shells are so close that one can actually see into the boats and hear the often-desperate commands of the coxswain urging the crews to go faster yet. It is a spectacular Ascot-like sporting event, second only to the Olympics. In fact, Olympic rowing has been held twice at Henley.
The Henley Women's Regatta race course
Drexel … Australia … Attention! … GO!
And so the Drexel pair went off. Our team looked good; unfazed and in rhythm. But the Australians were strong and pulled ahead by half a length at Temple Island and won by two lengths. After the race our ladies looked disappointed (an understatement), but in short time they will realize that they belong to a very select group of 1,600 competitors this year -- the largest women's Henley ever, including 36 international teams, that can for the rest of their lives say, "I raced at Henley." In fact, our varsity double Barbara McKenna and Stephanie Thomas belong to an even smaller group of competitors that advanced at Henley and came back to row another day to compete. Well done!
The Drexel varsity pair, with steam umpire launch following
In the afternoon our Dad Vail silver-medal varsity eight took on the U23 French National team, which was assembled from six different cities in France. I watched the race at the starting line, which is so close to the shore that you can basically have a personal conversation with the crews. The French boat was so close to the shore that I could listen in on their pre-race chatter, all in French naturally. I thought it was so cool that our team from Drexel is competing in such an international context.
Everything is about the start at Henley. The women's race is a shorter 1,500 yards and therefore more like a sprint. The French boat jumped on the Dragons a bit and pulled ahead by a "seat" at Temple Island. Our varsity eight looked absolutely fantastic in this race, but as they were fading from my view I had to wait for the phone call from the finish line five minutes later to see how we did … we lost by a length!
The Drexel varsity eight battling the French National Team at Temple Island
At the Henley Women's Regatta there is no second, no bronze medal, just knockout competition to find out the simple truth . . . Who Is The Fastest? And so our incredible season, that included a Dad Vail team title, came to a close. Over the course of the weekend we competed against the English, Australians, Irish and the French … it felt like I was at the Olympics!
Drexel has only been to Henley five times, in 1972, 2005, 2010, 2012, and now in 2014. Getting to Henley is a great achievement, both logistically and competitively. I am so proud of our teams and how they fought hard and represented our University with such great class.
Farewell from Henley
I want to thank all of the donors that supported the trip to Henley. I also want to thank all of the parents that made the trip to England. On Friday we had a team, parents, coaches and friends group dinner at the historic Angel pub in Henley; I counted over 55 Drexel supporters in attendance! It was fun catching up with all of the parents and learning more about their incredible daughters. Three alumnae from the 2005 Henley boat also made the trip and it was great to see them competing one year only to come back and cheer on the team some years later. Also thank you to our University administration, including President John Fry and Sr. VP Jim Tucker, who were behind us the whole way. Thanks to Drexel Alumni Relations as well as Aberdeen Asset Management for sponsoring us in London. And finally thanks to the student-athletes themselves as well as the coaching staff under head coach Paul Savell, who are, after all, the most important ingredient in our successful Drexel rowing program.
With very best wishes,
Dr. Eric Zillmer
Check out the previous "Dragon Dispathes" post
Drexel's Autocomplete With Rowing Coach Paul Savell
Tuesday, March 18
Justin Best - Olympic Gold Medal Rower
Wednesday, March 05
Dragon Leadership Academy Feature 2024
Friday, March 01
Game Plans - Presented by The Study - Rowing Coach Katie Lane
Tuesday, February 06