More on the Henley Women’s Regatta

HENLEY-On-Thames, England (June 17) – It marks the first time that a Seattle Pacific University crew has contested an international prize, and yet the collegiate four category at the Henley Women’s Regatta could come down to a battle between American boats for the Frank Harry Cup.

The Falcons, who won their second straight small college national title last month, will open with a first-round match race against England’s Trafford Saturday morning on the Thames River. The winner advances to meet Royal Chester later in the day.

Keith Jefferson, the SPU coach, believes that his crew can survive the first day, which would likely set-up a Sunday semifinal pairing with Princeton. Stanford is in the other half of the bracket, and Jefferson expects the Cardinal to be in the grand final.

Seattle Pacific won nine of 10 races this spring but has been idle from racing for five weeks. The last outing was a win over five Division I crews at the Pacific Coast Championships May 15. The Falcons arrived Monday and will use their regular Pocock shell, which was shipped earlier.

Jefferson’s stern trio has been together for three seasons and enjoyed a great deal of success. Stroke Sara Zorn (Jr., Mercer Island, Wa.), No. 3 seat Andi Martineau (Jr., Superior, Mt.) and No. 2 Heidi Visser (Jr., Wenatchee, Wa.) were undefeated as novices and finished second once in 2003. The only loss this season came with Martineau scatching late due to a back injury. Still, the average margin of victory was 11.8 seconds. Carley Bollen (So., Missoula, Mt./Valley Christian) rows in the bow and Joanna Hodgkiss (Sr., Sr., Tacoma, Wa./Puyallup) is the coxswain. Alicia Apple (So., Sequim, Wa.) is the alternate.

The regatta setting, about 40 miles northwest of London, is identical to the men’s Royal Henley Regatta, but the course, shortened from 2000 to 1500 meters, is run upstream in the opposite direction. Weekend forecasts call for cool temperatures with light rain.