June 19, 2006

Henley-on-Thames, England-With the completion of the Henley Women's Regatta, Villanova women's rowing's trip to England has nearly come to an end.

It seems like so long ago the team converged on Heathrow Airport, ready to take on the rowing world. Villanova found success at the Reading Amateur Regatta on its first weekend here. The senior coxed fours won its event to take some hardware back to the States.

The team worked hard in the ensuing week, scheduling double practices on the Tuesday and Thursday, but didn't forget to have fun, exploring the town of Henley as well as taking day trips to London, Windsor Castle and Oxford. The girls saw a show, went shopping, toured castles and cathedrals and learned more than a little about England and its history if not the answer to the question: Where are all the public garbage cans?

Finally it was Henley weekend. The team attended a reception to mingle with all the other crews and go through the River & Rowing Museum, avoiding the larger-than-life and slightly scary-looking statues of Sir Matthew Pinsent and Sir Steven Redgrave.

Saturday was exciting as the three boats competed well while battling all sorts of insects, including dive-bombing beetles, and mildly oppressive heat. Bev Wilson and Katie DiSilvestro in the pairs; Jane Pancurak, Martha Runkle, Marissa Miraval, Elizabeth Jackson, Katie Barzelatto, Lauren Anderson, Joanna Weber, Katie Moss and Colleen Furman in the JV eight; and Christina Baumgardner, Meg Walsh, Elena McDermott, Kathleen O'Connell, Taylor Malloy, Nancy Olewnik, Elysse Voyer, Caitlin DeBarbrie and Katie Neugold in the varsity eight.

The varsity eight made it through to Sunday, where it met a fast Imperial College team who took the hard-fought race by one and a half lengths. Villanova has a lot to be proud of, however, knowing it stood up against good crews from several different European countries and not only held its own but won.

The team dispersed all over London today, on a well-deserved free day, or took the Eurostar train to Paris see the City of Light.

The trip has been filled with ice creams, chocolate, racing and a lot of wonderful memories--both on the river and off.