Lightweight Crew in Henley Finals

[cornellbigred.cstv.com]

July 5, 2007
HENLEY-ON-THAMES, England - The Cornell University lightweight rowing team took its second victory at the Temple Challenge Cup at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta, defeating Bath University this afternoon.

Bath managed to jump out to a four-seat lead early in the race, but Cornell buckled down at the Barrier and managed to pull even at the Fawley. From there, the Big Red pulled ahead to win by two lengths in a time of 7:24.

With the win, the Big Red will move on to race in tomorrow's quarterfinals vs. the University of Bristol.

Cornell defeated Bristol and will face Colgate in the semifinals of the Temple Challenge Cup. On the other side of the bracket Berkeley and Brown won their quarterfinal races setting up an all USA semifinals.

[www.hrr.co.uk]

[cornellbigred.cstv.com]

Lightweight Crew Heads to Henley Finals for Second Straight Year

Big Red beats Colgate, set to face Cal tomorrow

July 7, 2007

HENLEY-ON-THAMES, England - With the weather conditions far more favorable and a lower current, the Cornell University lightweight crew rowed to its best time of the week as it defeated instate rival Colgate in a time of 7:02 at the Temple Challenge Cup at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta. With the win, the Big Red earned a spot in tomorrow's final, where it will meet an extremely talented Cal crew that defeated Brown this afternoon in a time of 6:47.

Colgate's team, as a heavyweight crew, held an advantage as a bigger and stronger boat and they jumped out to an early lead, rowing fiercely to take a three-quarter length advantage after the first minute. The Raiders got to the Barrier in a blazing time of 1:58, but Cornell held tough and pulled within one-quarter length by the Fawley.

Despite being in the less favorable outside lane, the Big Red fought back and took the lead, gaining a half a length on Colgate by the Enclosures.

After Cornell took as much as a three-quarter length lead, the Raiders mounted a final charge but the Big Red managed to hold them off and pull away in the final strokes for the victory.

Univ. of California, Berkeley, USA beats Cornell University, USA by 1¼ lengths in 6.45

This was an amazing showing by Cornell. The Cal boat was a very good heavyweight crew that had a huge height and weight advantage on a kick ass lightweight boat. The guys should be proud.

Really impressive. It sounds like these guys are really tough finishers. To hold their own against some heavyweight crews on the worlds biggest stage for rowing makes it that much more impressive.

Congratulations to the team and anyone affiliated with them.