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Women’s Rowing Heading to England

| By: Rodrigo Santiago

Raiders to Compete in Top Regatta While Visiting U.K. in June

HAMILTON – The upcoming summer will be a special one for Colgate Women's Rowing, as the team is heading to England for a two-week excursion that includes competing in a regatta that's considered the pinnacle of women's rowing.

The Raiders will kick things off in late May with a 10-day sojourn in Syracuse, N.Y., to practice and prepare for their trip across the pond, which is scheduled for June 8. When Colgate arrives in England, the team will head to Henley-on-the-Thames, a town in the English countryside nearly 40 miles west of London.

There, the Raiders will follow an itinerary that has opportunities for sightseeing—including a whole day in London—plus plenty of rowing on the River Thames.

In addition, the Raiders will compete in two races, starting with the Reading Amateur Regatta during their first weekend, followed by the highlight of the trip — racing in the Henley Women's Regatta, which draws more than 2,000 rowers from the U.K. and the world each year. 

It's the first time in more than two decades that Colgate will compete in the regatta.

"We are really looking forward to this event," said head coach Jim Lister. 

"In the world of rowing, the Henley Women's Regatta is the pinnacle race experience," Lister said. "It's been 25 years since the last time Colgate women went abroad to race in the Henley. The race format is knockout dual racing, with the winning team advancing until only one team stands as the winner."

Colgate will send a squad of 19 to England. The Raiders are bringing two eights worth of rowers and two coxswains, plus a spare rower. The team plans to rent boats from its boating company while in England, Lister said.


The three-day Henley features a 1,500-meter race that cuts through the most iconic stretch of the River Thames. Spectators follow a dress code, which includes wearing "Henley jackets" and sun hats, which creates a formal atmosphere unlike any rowing event.

Rowing will take up a large part of the team's schedule in the U.K. But there will also be plenty of time for fun outside the water.

The team will have a day off to visit London and other places around the region. They will tour the grounds and museum at Wimbledon, and have lunch at the home of one of their fellow rowers, co-captain Marie Clausen, who hails from London.

The trip wraps up on June 22, when the Raiders depart from Heathrow Airport for the states.

"The team is very excited about going to England," Lister said. "I hope this will be an experience that they will never forget. 

"We are also looking forward to our stay in Syracuse," he said. "We have rented a house for the rowers to stay at and enjoy some downtime from their busy academic life at Colgate. This will give them an opportunity to practice on a body of limitless water and enjoy some of the festivities of early summer in Syracuse."
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