In what was an extremely close race, Exeter’s eight lost to Phillips Andover in the semifinals this morning by less than one boatlength. The Andover boat managed to get ahead by a few seats off of the start, and in a mile-long dogfight between the two eights, Andover managed to hang on to their lead until the finish line. Despite this defeat, the girls are satisfied with their performance and optimistic about next season. Every rower in the eight will be returning next season, including Allison Courtin, Rory Erickson-Kulas, Erin Metcalf, Lizzy McDermott, Nancy McKinstry, Rebecca Kisner, Katrina Regan and Catherine McDermott. With this international racing experience, they will undoubtedly be a very fast boat next spring.

On the other side of the bracket, St. Paul’s School (of Concord, New Hampshire) lost to South Niagara/E.L. Crossley (an affiliated school and club from Welland and Fonthill, Ontario) by a half length in the semifinals. In the Grand Final, E.L. Crossley beat Andover by over two lengths.

Pictures from the girl’s entire post-season, including the USRowing Youth National Championship, the Reading Amateur Regatta, and the Henley Women’s Regatta, will be available soon. A short movie is also in the works.

Preliminary results from the first day of the Henley Women’s Regatta are in.

Exeter’s four, consisting of (from cox to bow) Andrea Nortey, Kate Morris, Anna Johnson, Catie Lucy, and Jess Flakne, was entered in the Senior 4+ event against an international field of college crews. Though Exeter was ahead at the start of their dual race, the much older University of London Women’s Boat Club came back to win in the end.

Exeter’s eight, consisting of (from cox to bow) Hannah Woodruff, Allison Courtin, Rory Erickson-Kulas, Erin Metcalf, Lizzy McDermott, Nancy McKinstry, Rebecca Kisner, Katrina Regan and Catherine McDermott, “easily” beat King’s School, Worcester (of Worcester, England) in the quarter-finals and will proceed to the semi-finals. The term “easily” is traditionally used when a boat wins by over five lengths and specifying the distance would be rude. Tomorrow at 14:05 UK time (9:05 EST) they will race local archenemy Phillips Andover (of Andover, Massachusetts) for a spot in the Grand Finals. This season Exeter’s girls’ first has a 2-1 record against Andover, including a 0.2 second victory at the NEIRA Championship Regatta. The schools in the other semifinal race are local rival St. Paul’s School (of Concord, New Hampshire) and South Niagara/E.L. Crossley (an affiliated school and club from Welland and Fonthill, Ontario). The winners of each semifinal will race in the Grand Final at 16:30 UK time (11:30 EST) for the Peabody Cup.

This weekend, Exeter girls will be competing at the Henley Women’s Regatta at Henley-on-Thames, England. Established in 1988 after growing frustration at the lack of women’s events at the Henley Royal Regatta, the Henley Women’s Regatta races the first 1500 meters of the same stretch of the River Thames as the Henley Royal Regatta. All races are “dual” races with only two crews competing at a time, but the bracket is single-elimination with no repechage races or petite finals.

Exeter’s four is entered in the Senior 4+ (coxed straight four) event where college and high-school crews compete for the Frank Harry Cup. Consisting of Andrea Nortey, Kate Morris, Anna Johnson, Catie Lucy, and Jess Flakne, the four’s first race is on Saturday at 14:06 UK time (9:06 EST) against the University of London Women’s Boat Club. The full bracket for this event is on the right (click to zoom).

Exeter’s eight is entered in the Junior 8 event where high-school crews compete for the Peabody Cup. Consisting of Hannah Woodruff, Allison Courtin, Rory Erickson-Kulas, Erin Metcalf, Lizzy McDermott, Katrina Regan, Rebecca Kisner, Nancy McKinstry and Catherine McDermott, the eight’s first race is on Saturday at 17:34 UK time (12:34 EST). Due to the fact that Exeter’s eight got a first-round by, their opponent is the winner of Race 204, in which Tabor Academy B and King’s School Worcester will race two hours earlier that afternoon. The full bracket for this event is on the right (click to zoom).

Good luck girls!