Our Senior squad had a very busy end to the Summer Term with Henley Royal Regatta 2023. The College entered two eights into the Qualifying Races; a Boys' crew in The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup and a Girls' crew in The Prince Philip Challenge Cup.

Despite containing a number of very young rowers from our Year 10 squads, the crews came within seven seconds of qualifying for the main regatta which is very impressive! This was a fabulous experience for them and they will have learned a huge amount ahead of next year.

The Senior Boys' Quad had shown good form both at National Schools' Regatta in May and also by winning the subsequent Reading Amateur and Reading Town regattas. The results of these regattas meant they were entered directly into the main draw of The Fawley Challenge Cup for Junior Men's Quad Sculls.

On the first day of Henley, the crew showed their excellent speed from the start. RGS High Wycombe made a technical error which gave our Pangbourne crew a comfortable lead through to the finish.

On Thursday, the second day of the Regatta, Pangbourne was drawn against the national silver medallists Marlow Rowing Club. Once again our crew got off to a great start, leading the first quarter of the race, before the raw speed of Marlow proved a step too far.

To have nine of the ten most experienced Senior rowers back in the Boys' Squad next year bodes very well, and with all of the girls returning (supplemented by a strong J15 group from this year), the coming season should be exciting!

On a weekend which celebrated the 20th anniversary of Pangbourne last winning The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup and the 60th since we first won, it was great to see three fellow #PangCollOPs racing on Henley Finals Day. 

Philip Garnier (2013-18) came a close second racing for Thames Rowing Club in The Wyfold Challenge Cup. Huge congratulations to Cameron Moffatt (2015-18) and Rory Harris (2011-2016, Captain of Boats 2015-16). Cameron was cox for Oxford Brookes University in The Island Challenge Cup for Student Women’s Eights. Rory made it three wins in a row racing for Leander Club, winning The Prince of Wales Challenge Cup for Intermediate Men's Quad Sculls.

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