PBC Men go for a cuptastic Henley 2010

A few of the guys from PBC's 2007 Henley Men's Club 8+ above return to the 2010 crew to make another run at it.

From June 30 – July 4, Potomac Boat Club’s Men’s Sweep Team will compete for the Thames Challenge Cup, the prize awarded to the winner of the Men’s Club Eight event at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta.

The regatta, first held in 1839, takes place annually on the River Thames near the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. More than 500 crews from 20 nations will compete this year, including our own.

PBC men last competed at Henley in 2007. They were the only U.S. crew to make it to the Thames Challenge Cup quarterfinals. A few of the guys from 2007 are returning this year and hope to better their result. We think they will.

The 2010 crew includes Apollo Nguyen (cox), Chad Jungbluth, Paul Holland, John Forrest, Mike McCarthy, Bob Price (PBC President), Brian Wood, Nick Davies, and Tom Brock.

PBC's 2010 Henley team prepares last month at home

Each event at Henley is a single-elimination competition; in other words, you could be one and done, or get to play all week.  Boats race two at a time down a 2,112 meter-long course so narrow, there are only a few meters to spare when side-by-side. Adding to the potential drama (and undoubtedly, the regatta’s popularity with spectators), the course is lined by floating, unforgiving wooden bars or “booms.” Steering into the boom is known by onlookers as a “Henley Royal F[oul]-up,” and offending coxswains must wear crowns emblazoned with the same for the remainder of the regatta. (Just kidding about that last part. Maybe.)

On Saturday, June 26th, if all the guys make it into town on time, PBC will tune up and shake off the jet lag at the Reading Town Regatta.  Once racing starts at Henley, you can follow the guys as they battle through the competition by signing up for Twitter, Facebook or any of the other Henley results services offered at http://hrr.co.uk/pdisp.php?pid=316.

In the meantime, below we’ve included an alphabetical list of the clubs PBC will have to beat to advance, followed by a list of past PBC winners at Henley.

Safe travels and best of luck to Apollo and our crew. Row hard, guys!

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The Thames Challenge Cup
Current holders: Molesey Boat Club A

1829 Boat Club
Abingdon Rowing Club
Agecroft Rowing Club
Broxbourne Rowing Club
Carlow Rowing Club, Ireland
Combined Services Rowing Club
Curlew Rowing Club
Durham Amateur Rowing Club
Galway Rowing Club, Ireland
Henley Rowing Club
HSBC Rowing Club
Kingston Rowing Club
Lea Rowing Club
London Rowing Club ‘A’
London Rowing Club ‘B’
Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club
Molesey Boat Club ‘A’
Molesey Boat Club ‘B’
Potomac Boat Club, U.S.A.
Putney Town Rowing Club
Reading Rowing Club
Runcorn Rowing Club
St. Michael’s Rowing Club, Ireland
Sons of the Thames Rowing Club
Staines Boat Club
Star Club
Thames Rowing Club ‘A’
Thames Rowing Club ‘B’
Thames Rowing Club ‘C’
Thames Tradesmen’s Rowing Club
Twickenham Rowing Club
Upper Thames Rowing Club
Vesta Rowing Club
West End Rowing Club, New Zealand
York City Rowing Club

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Past Winners of the Henley Royal Regatta - PBC and Washington & Lee High School

1973 Henley 2- Champs, PBC's Terry Adams and Mark Borchelt

1964

Washington-Lee High School

Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup

1969

Washington-Lee High School

Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup

1973

Potomac Boat Club

Silver Goblets & Nickalls Challenge Cup

1975

Potomac Boat Club

Stewards’ Challenge Cup

1980

Potomac Boat Club

Silver Goblets & Nickalls Challenge Cup

1996

Potomac Boat Club & National Training Ctr.

Double Sculls Challenge Cup

Results from 29th Annual Scullers Head of the Potomac

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the 29th Charlie Butt Annual Scullers Head of the Potomac (SHOP)!

For official 2009 results, visit the Potomac Boat Club website at http://potomacboatclub.org/result09.php.

Looking for photos of your race?

For Sportgraphics pics of Potomac Boat Club at the SHOP, go here.  To search for other teams, visit the Sportgraphics search page here.

Thanks to the many tireless volunteers who made this the best SHOP to date!

See you all next year!

Register for the 29th Annual Charlie Butt Scullers’ Head of the Potomac

Men's 8s jockey for position at Key Bridge during the Scullers' Head of the Potomac (M. Jantzen '08)

Registration is now open!

Potomac Boat Club’s Regatta Committee is proud to announce the 29th annual Charlie Butt Scullers’ Head of the Potomac (SHOP) will be held on Sunday, September 27, 2009.

Once considered a tune up regatta for the Head of the Charles in mid-October, the SHOP today is a milestone on the fall racing calendar and includes more than 40 sweep and sculling events.

Registration for the SHOP is open from now until Saturday, September 19, 2009.  Visit the Scullers’ Head of the Potomac online registration area on Ronin Racing to sign up.  Once there, you will also find a schedule of events, directions, a link to the waiver, athlete check-in information, and the most up to date list of competitors.

Please note, entries must be received by Saturday, September 12, 2009, to avoid the late fee.  And once registration closes on Saturday, September 19, 2009, it’s closed.  There is no race day registration this year.

Still have a question about the SHOP?  Please send it to PBC’s Regatta Committee chair, Samantha Byrd, at headofthepotomac@gmail.com.

Raced through one of the Nation’s most historic corridors, the Scullers’ Head of the Potomac is a true test of physical endurance and mental toughness for sweep crews and scullers alike.  Don’t miss it!