Henley-on-Thames, England: The University of Southern California’s historic attempt to become only the third American university to win the prestigious Grand Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in the last half century was dashed by Canada in the final on Sunday.



USC had qualified for the two-boat final on Saturday by defeating Denmark by 1 1⁄2 boat lengths in the semi-final round in front of 100,000 spectators. Canada, boating its line-up for the upcoming under-23 world championships, qualified with its win over the renowned English club Leander by just a few feet the same day.



Prior to the final on Sunday, The Red Arrows of the British Royal Airforce did a fly by down the race course to the joy of spectators thronging the river. And then the racing began.



From The Telegraph’s Rachel Quarrell:
“Thunderclaps rolled around the Henley-on-Thames valley as Canada's Under-23s, Victoria City and Kingston, crossed the line a length ahead of the University of Southern California to retain the Grand Challenge Cup yesterday.

“Lightning and a torrential rainstorm followed, stopping racing for half an hour while the crews emptied their boats and took shelter. Even before the storm struck, the Grand race had been a thriller. The University of Southern California, with six Estonian under-23 champions on board, rapidly took the lead but the Canadians made a tactical surge at half way, regaining the advantage to win by two lengths.”

From The Independent’s Chris Dodd:
“The Grand Challenge Cup had all the best ingredients of Henley's top event, plus an unwelcome deluge with thunder and lightning which caused further racing to be delayed, such was its ferocity. Victoria City and Kingston, the Canadian under-23 crew, were admonished by the umpire in the first few strokes for veering towards the centre.

“After quarter of a mile their University of Southern California opponents were leading by a foot, and at the Barrier by a canvas. At Remenham the Canadians were moving up while Gene Kininmonth, USC's coach, was wishing, sotto voce in the umpire's launch, that his cox would keep closer to the booms.

“Canada struck at Remenham and took a canvas lead at the mile marker. After another eighth of a mile they had a length, and made it two by the finish.”

From USC Head Coach Gene Kininmonth in a final email to USC alumni:
Our Trojan Navy battled with fierce determination against the Canadians for the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta yesterday but unfortunately it was not to be our year.

I was privileged to follow the race in the umpire launch and got a first hand look at the entire race as it progressed. Canada nipped out to a small lead off the start but our Trojans quickly surged through them and enjoyed a boat length lead in the first third of the race. The first half of the race was in flat water with relatively little wind.

Relative, that is to most of the regatta in which winds were gusting up to 30 miles an hour.
The USC crew is built for speed while the bigger and taller Canadians enjoyed a significant power advantage. At the half way mark the head winds suddenly picked up and the race became about power. The Canadians made a very strong push, which took them past our crew and all the way to a well-deserved victory.

Sadly, this was my last race with USC. I have certainly enjoyed every moment of my journey with the Trojan Navy and will take with me cherished memories. USC is an increasingly great university and I hope just a little bit better for the contribution of its men's crew.

Thank you for supporting the crew and myself so generously over the years. A rowing experience is a wonderful education for any student and I hope you will continue to support the Crew into the future.

FIGHT ON!
Gene Kininmonth
Coach .