HK crews qualify for Henley regatta

An 'inspired conversation' over a few drinks has led to two crews from the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club representing the city at the Henley Royal Regatta in London next week.

Club rowing captain Mark Welles and his teammates left for London last night to take part in the famous race where 499 crews are entered, including a record 133 overseas entries from 21 countries for the June 27-July 1 regatta. The Hong Kong crews will take part in the Thames Challenge Cup for club eights and in the Wyfold Challenge Cup for club coxless fours.

'We are all very excited. This is the largest contingent of competitors the club has ever sent to Henley and we look forward to competing against some of the best clubs and schools in the sport,' Welles said. 'It was just a chance conversation [in November last year] which led to this. We were talking about it and were inspired to make it happen. Things started to move quickly as we got our act together.'

Welles, an American who has lived in Hong Kong since 1995, will take part in the fours with David Doran, Mark Stamper and John Skinner, who is also the club's rowing secretary. The eights crew comprises Alasdair Anderson, Allan Watt, Philip Crinion, Oliver Ernst, Henry Bremridge, John Pinkel, Paul Bougon, Toby Dankbaar and Henry Dunlop (cox).

Welles was grateful to the Hong Kong Rowing Association for providing training facilities and helping with the application process, which will see a RHKYC crew take part in the race for the first time since 2007.

'We had to pre-qualify for Henley and we achieved this on our times in races on Shing Mun River arranged by the rowing association,' Welles said. 'Something like this, however, can only happen on the back of the tireless efforts of many people.'