| Cygnet Rowing Club |
| Illustrated History |
At Henley
Henley Royal Regatta has always held something of a mystical attraction for Cygnet crews. An added attraction these days is the Club's own private enclosure at regatta time, courtesy of the President Peter Sly, who lives on the course at Remenham, in a cottage appropriately named `Old Blades'.
Cygnet oarsmen first rowed at Henley Regatta in 1938, when they represented the Civil Service in the Thames Cup. To quote Dusty Miller `the crew arrived at the Olde White Hart at Henley on Sunday, 26th June, which was to be their home up to, and throughout the days of the regatta. The daily training schedule at Henley was grapefruit, after rising at 7 a.m., followed by a walk of about three miles; broken by short spells of running. After skipping, breakfast at 9 a.m. (no bacon). Then a row over the course at 11 a.m. followed by lunch at 1 p.m., when a pint of beer was allowed but no potatoes. The men were then required to rest between 2-4 p.m., and to sleep if possible. At 5 p.m. they were on the river once more, and this second outing was followed by dinner at 7.30 p.m., a stroll in the country and bed at 10-10.30 p.m. The taking of tea was discouraged at any time, but much milk was drunk'.
The Civil Service crew had drawn Eton Excelsior and on the day of the race they took up their station on the Berks side. Eton started at a higher rate, but both crews remained level until they passed Temple Island, when a strong wind caught the Civil Service off balance. Eton Excelsior took this opportunity to put in a spurt giving them a lead of a little over a length which they maintained for the remainder of the course. Nevertheless, it was a good race and the time of 7 minutes 32 seconds was beaten only by London Rowing Club on that day.
Over thirty years were to pass before Cygnet would row under its own name at Henley. That occasion arose in 1972. John Cork, the then boatman from Emanuel School, was asked to coach an VIII, and the Club enjoyed the hospitality of RAF Medmenham, living like officers by all accounts! Suffice it to say, Cygnet lost to a much more experienced Quintin crew in a heat of the Thames Cup, but another milestone in the Club's history had been set.
The Club returned to Henley again in the following year, this time entering both Thames Cup and Britannia Cup. Michael Longford, affectionately known as Ginger Beer, coached both crews and kept a very detailed diary which forms part of the main Club history. He also starred unknowingly in a television documentary of Henley, looking every inch a coach and saying `which station do you want Jesus' (College!). To return to the crews, the IV won its qualifying race, but both crews were defeated on the first day of the regatta proper.
Transatlantic tussles
Cygnet's next appearance at Henley was to be in 1977, and again in 1978, under the aegis of George Plumtree, a coach of long-standing and one of the great characters of the Tideway. This time the crew accommodation was on a different level to previous years, being the unmodernised shell of what was to become `Old Blades'. George was fond of telling crews that they `didn't know how to crush a grape in anger' so Cygnet trained rigorously three times a day on the water and was restricted to two pints of beer a head in the evening.
In the event (Thames Cup) Cygnet drew transatlantic opposition in both years. The first occasion was unremarkable. On the second occasion, in 1978 Cygnet met Brentwood College School, Canada. The race was a hard fought one. By the end of the island Cygnet had taken a lead of three-quarters of a length, which they maintained to the barrier and thence to Fawley. At the enclosure both crews were level, when the Canadians mounted a final challenge taking them to a victory of two-thirds of a length in a time of 7 minutes 23 seconds. This attempt still stands as the closest Cygnet has yet come to winning a heat at Henley.
The 1980s have witnessed more frequent appearances at Henley for Cygnet and in greater strength of numbers. Thus, on several occasions the Club has entered both the Thames and Wyfold Cups. At times, Cygnet has again seemed close to winning a heat as in 1982 and in 1986 when a Wyfold entry led to the beginning of the enclosures but, to date, this goal has proved elusive. Hopefully, it will not be long before the Club puts this record straight, whether it be in Thames Cup, Wyfolds, Goblets or even the Diamonds
.