Good Night, 

From Henley

Henley-on-Thames — The medals have been awarded, the quaint town of Henley is slowly emptying out, and another Henley Royal Regatta has concluded. 

The afternoon on the River Thames was highlighted by the German National Team racing as R.C. Hansa Dortmund beating the British National Team (Molesey B.C. and Leander Club) by 1 length to win the prestigious Grand Challenge Cup.  The Germans tied the course record at the Barrier (1.43) and Fawley (2.53) and set a new record at the finish line in 5 minutes, 57 seconds.  The matchup was considered a prelude to the 2012 Olympic finals in London.

All was not lost for Great Britain, despite the loss in Henley's premier event.  Team GB won five of trophies on the day after a strong semifinal that saw all of its men's boats reach the finals.

On the American side, the U.S. women's quad rowing out of Princeton Training Center beat the Australian Institute of Sport by 1 1/4 lengths in 7 minutes, 2 seconds to win gold in the Princess Grace Challenge Cup.

It was a particularly strong day for the U.S. women's team, highlighted by the world champion eight beating the British by 1 3/4 lengths in the Remenham Cup Challenge. 

In a race that stirred up the Henley crowd like a straw in a jug of Pimm's, England's Abingdon School beat St. Andrew's School from Middletown, Del., by 1 3/4 lengths in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup.  Abingdon, located just 20 miles from Henley, had a huge contingent on hand that turned the banks of the Thames into a staging ground for the day's biggest celebration.  St. Andrew's, which had a splendid five-day showing, lost by 1 3/4 lengths.

The final U.S. crew competing in the afternoon was an American men's quad out of California's Chula Vista Training Center.  The Americans lost by 2 1/2 lengths to the Brits from Leander Club & Molesey B.C., which set a new course record by finishing in 6 minutes, 19 seconds.

This year's regatta was highlighted by beautifully calm weather creating spectacular racing conditions.  All told, 33 records were broken and 24 were equalled over the five days of racing.

Click HERE for a rundown of the results in every event at Henley.

Scroll down for a wrap-up on this morning's finals.

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