1971 Lightweight Crew Honored At Henley Regatta
6/29/2022 1:00:00 PM | Lightweight Rowing
The Columbia Lightweight Rowing crew that took part in the 1971 Henley Royal Regatta, will take part in a celebratory row past at this year’s Henley Regatta.
HENLEY-ON-THAMES, England — The Columbia Lightweight Rowing crew that rowed at the 1971 Henley Royal Regatta will celebrate their 50th Anniversary on the final day of the 2022 Henley Royal Regatta, taking part in a celebratory row past on Sunday, July 3.
The celebration, which is a year late due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will honor the crew of Andy Dunn '71CC (COX); Al Medioli '73CC; Jeff Johnson '73CC; JB Doyle '72CC; John O'Connor '73CC; Paul Demartini '72CC; Marc Binder '71CC; Paul Gruber '72SEAS; Henry Herfindahl '72CC; Howard Strateman '73SEAS and John Mulligan '72CC. The row past will also double as a chance to honor the unique place that Columbia Rowing holds in Henley's annals.
During the row past at this year's Henley, Columbia's boat will be crewed by Medioli; Gruber; Philip Adkins '80CC; Andrew Turner (Upper Thames Rowing Club, Oxford); Demartini; Mulligan; Nobu Ishizuka '82CC and Charles Sherman '72JS. Sherman, who will handle the coxswain duties, was the 1971 freshman lightweight coach.
On July 5, 1878, a Columbia four became the first American crew ever to win a race at Henley, or in England. In that year's first, three-boat heat for the Visitor's Challenge Cup, Columbia placed second behind Monroe, Michigan (with Dublin University Rowing Club disqualified). Next, the Lions defeated Jesus College, Cambridge, and University College, Oxford. Finally, Columbia made history by besting the four from Hertford College.
In 1971, for the first time in decades, Columbia came back to Henley on the strength of a second-place finish to Harvard at the Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges regatta, effectively the national lightweight championships of that era. In the first heat for the Thames Challenge Cup, Columbia defeated Trinity Boat Club of Cambridge by 3.75 lengths, with a time of 7:14. Columbia then beat London Rowing Club by 1.5 lengths, with a time of 7:09, before falling to Bewdley in the quarterfinal to end their run at Henley.
The Henley Royal Regatta began on Tuesday, June 28.
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