Henley Regatta Central

HENLEY-ON-THAMES, Oxfordshire, UK — For the first time in 40 years a Northeastern University crew will compete in a Henley Royal Regatta final. The Huskies' varsity eight looked polished from start to finish on Saturday and walked away from the Under-23 British national team, rowing under the name Robert Gordon University and Aberdeen Boat Club, to win by three and one-half lengths.

The ascent to the final of the Ladies' Challenge Plate comes exactly 40 years after Northeastern's 1973 varsity advanced to the Henley final. The members of the 1973 team, who will participate in a reunion row-over tomorrow, cheered from the banks of the River Thames with dozens of fellow alumni oarsmen as the Red and Black powered down the course. NU also placed a crew in the final of the Prince Philip Challenge Cup in 1973. This year's varsity is the fourth Northeastern crew ever — and just the third eight — to advance to a Henley final.

"It's just another indication of where our university is going," head coach John Pojednic said of the varsity's historic feat. "The upward trajectory of Northeastern as an institution … you can't argue with it."

The Huskies seized control of the race almost from the start, taking a one-length lead by the quarter-mile mark. Striking at a rate of 37, the Red and Black moved past the Barrier at 1:46 with a comfortable one and one-half lengths lead. Northeastern increased its lead to two lengths by Fawley and to two and one-half lengths by the three-quarter mile mark. The NU varsity maintained the margin through the one mile and one and one-eighth mile marks. In the race's final stage, the Huskies walked away from Roger Gordon to win by three and one-half lengths, finishing with a time of 6:16.

"I thought the guys had a much stronger race today," Pojednic commented. "Candidly, I was a bit surprised at how much control they were able to take over the race early on, and then continue to stretch that out."

The victory over Robert Gordon avenges a loss by the Huskies' second varsity to that same crew in the quarterfinal round a day ago. The NU 2V battled valiantly in that race, and challenged Robert Gordon through the finish.

"I want to make sure to give credit to our JV, because yesterday our JV raced the crew that we beat today, and they pushed them very, very hard all the way down the course," Pojednic said. "I give credit to our JV because I think they tired out our opponent a little bit yesterday. Advancing to the final is really the product of the effort of a whole team, not just one crew. All 18 of the oarsmen and two coxswains who are here played a role in taking this next step."

Northeastern will face a formidable opponent in Leander Club and Molesey Boat Club in the Ladies' Challenge Plate Final.

"We're used to a format of three races, because that's how the IRA works," Pojednic noted. "Our goal is always to get faster through the three races and peak in the final race of the championship. I think that is what the crew is poised to do. We're really excited that we have a very, very good crew on our hands tomorrow."

As is Henley custom, race times will be announced Saturday evening, following the close of the day's racing.


SUNDAY SCHEDULE
TBA - Northeastern University 'A' vs. Leander Club and Molesey Boat Club (Ladies' Challenge Plate Final)

SATURDAY LINEUP
NORTHEASTERN 'A'
LADIES' CHALLENGE PLATE
C - Connor Wortley
S - Justin Jones
7 - Trevor Weaser
6 - Cameron Buchan
5 - Max Montpetit
4 - Kyle Erlandson
3 - Sean Crowley
2 - Riordan Morrell
B - Tyler Underhill