American Crews Enjoy Mixed Results at 148th Henley Regatta--1 Loss, 1 Win

A $20,000 trip by one American crew ended in defeat, while another survived jetlag to win its first race at the 148th Henley Regatta Wednesday.

Eight previously unbeaten freshmen from the University of Pennsylvania were swept out of their event by a late English entry, Vesta from west London.

Meanwhile, a coxless four from the Boston Rowing Club, which will represent the United States in next month’s world championships at Copenhagen, advanced into the second round of its event despite arriving in England only the night before. Overcoming tiredness, Boston managed to win by three-quarters of a length over a crew from the host club, Leander.

Pennsylvania was beaten by three-quarters of a length by Vesta in the Ladies’ Challenge Plate and became the latest victim of a rule change that bans overseas crews from another major event, the Thames Challenge Cup. Top overseas crews are forced to enter the Ladies’ Plate, which critics say has become overly competitive in the early stages.

Undefeated all season at home, Pennsylvania had spent nearly $20,000 bringing its crew across the Atlantic to the historic regatta and saw its dream destroyed in only seven minutes.

Pennsylvania Coach Larry Connell said his team had to stand by the result, adding: “When an American crew comes over to Henley, they know the rules. But it is disappointing to come all the way for one race.”

English team officials said the Vesta crew only came together eight days ago, after finding it had a spare boat available.

Regatta organizers have come under fire for giving expenses to competitors from the Soviet Union.

The organizers say the financial help given to teams from the Eastern Bloc is simply to overcome cash-flow problems, but English team officials view the practice as an affront to other teams, especially their own.

English Coach Penny Chuter said: “It hurts a lot. How can Henley Royal Regatta, this lucrative rowing arena of capitalist affluence, which enjoys greater profits and greater spectator support than any other rowing event in the world, actually pay the state-sponsored team of the Soviet Socialist Republics to attend while the stewards are unable to support our own severely underfunded British national rowing teams?”