Malvern Prep's Henley Mission Has Begun

Henley-on-Thames, England — Having reached at least the quarterfinals of the Henley Royal Regatta’s Fawley Cup in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2008, Malvern Prep’s senior quad is ready to break through and return stateside with some hardware this year.

“Nothing will be left on the table,” said head coach Craig Hoffman.  “If we go down, it will be because the other crew is just faster.”

Malvern’s mission began flawlessly today.  Hoffman’s crew defeated Clydesdale Amateur Rowing Club (Scotland) by 1 3/4 lengths on the River Thames to reach the Fawley Cup quarterfinals for the fifth time in nine years.

Tomorrow’s test will be daunting.  Malvern will face Sir William Borlase, which tied the course record in the Fawley Cup today in an eye-opening 6 minutes, 40 seconds during its victory over Norwich Rowing Club.

Malvern beat Clydesdale in 6:55.

“They’ll have a real fight on their hands tomorrow,” Hoffman said.  “(Sir William Borlase) is one of the best crews in England, if not the best.”

A crew stocked with four seniors, Malvern’s Pat Donahue, Austin Bury, Alec Somers and Dan Schwarz have an opportunity to leave a legacy at Malvern.  Hoffman’s quad has won gold at the last five Stotesbury Cup Regattas, but Henley is an entirely different animal.  Malvern has come close, reaching the finals in 2003, while the 2008 crew was knocked out in the semifinals.

“The 2003 boat set the standard,” Hoffman said.  “Everybody that comes through Malvern has the same goals — win Stotesbury and win the U.S. Rowing school and club national championship.  The thought process is that if you win those championships, you’ll have the opportunity to come to Henley.”

All four Malvern seniors will compete at elite colleges next year.  Donahue is heading to Cal-Berkley, Bury is off to Georgetown and both Somers and Schwarz will row for Penn.

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