Henley Royal Regatta’s fastest Eight returns (40 years later!)
– Guy Rees writes
Forty years ago, Leander was not enjoying anything like the level of success we see today. With the Club’s financial status in a precarious position, and a vote of ‘no confidence’ having been passed in the existing committee, the situation was ripe for change. In the so-called ‘Pink Revolution’ a new committee took over, under the Chairmanship of the late Tom Boswell, and with Jeremy ‘Rass’ Randall as the new Hon. Secretary and Ivor Lloyd as Captain.
When Leander won the Ladies’ Plate in 1985 it was the club’s first eight-oared victory at Henley for more than ten years and marked a new beginning for the Club’s fortunes which, with careful management and investment in the training facilities and equipment you see today, has ensured the highest performance standards are maintained to the present day. A number of 1985 crew also went on to secure international honours being selected for GB at the World Championships and Olympics Games.
In the 1985 final Leander beat Garda Siochana, of Ireland, by a canvas with the lead switching several times – the winning time of 6 mins 26 secs was faster than the winning time in the Grand by 3 seconds, making them the fastest boat of the Regatta! This was the first time in 36 years that this happened and has not been repeated since.
Crew members (from Bow to Stroke) Andy Peach, Mike Chapman, Roger Stevens, Julian Gallivan, Paul Wright, Simon Berrisford, Steve Turner and Colin Guppy with Guy Rees as cox and coached by John Pilgrim-Morris.
To mark the 40th anniversary of this historic win the crew will row over the course during the Saturday lunch interval of this year’s Regatta on 5th July (around midday).
We would love as many members as possible to see us off and return as possible.
