For the first time in several years Harvard is seriously considering sending a J.V. crew to the Henley Regatta in England and the Crimson J.V.'s chances of going appear to be about 90 per cent, The Crimson learned yesterday.
Harvard's undefeated J.V. heavyweights, fresh off an impressive victory over a fast Wisconsin crew in last Saturday's Eastern Sprints at Lake Qunisigamond, are the best group of second boat oarsmen the Crimson has had in quite a few years, and have been candidates for the Henley trip all season long.
But, in order to make the trip a reality, the J.V. needed to have an undefeated season and win the Sprints. It handled the first task with ease, piling up impressive margins in every race, but the Sprints was another story.
Nobody knew how fast Wisconsin would be; the Badgers were untested crew going into the race at Worcester. In the morning heat Harvard faced Wisconsin and defeated it by a handy one-length margin.
In the afternoon, however, the Badgers showed what they had been saving, and gave the Crimson the scare of its life. Going into the last 500 meters Wisconsin was a length down and it appeared Harvard would easily take the race.
Wisconsin put on its sprint and suddenly pulled to within a seat of the Crimson. But Harvard didn't lose control, took up the stroke three separate times in its sprint and finally won by a .8 second margin.
The pressure victory improved the J.V.'s chances of making the journey to England and competing in the Ladies Challenge Cup.
The Ladies Challenge Cup is second in the Henley hierarchy of awards, behind the Grand Challenge Cup and ahead of the Thames Challenge Cup which last year's freshman crew won.
If the J.V. goes to Henley as expected, they will face international competition as a crew for the first time--but not as individuals. Several of the Crimson oarsmen rowed in the Nile Festival Regatta at Cairo earlier this year against English and Egyptian crews.
Veteran J.V. stroke Woody Canaday, who rowed especially well in the Wisconsin race, will lead the Crimson to Henley. Won Kim will handle the steering. Steve Carr will be at seven. Tim Hosea at six, Peter Blair at five and Jim Owen at four. Sophomore Ronny Shaw will row at three in the standard-rigged boat, with Greg Stone and Terry Ferguson at two and bow.
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