Henley Classic Open Water Varsity 2022
Newly elected Open Water Captain Joe Read selected their team and the 8 swimmers from Oxford were eager to start the 2.1km swim upstream at 5:40am on Sunday 26th June 2022 after a 3 year break in the Henley Classic Open Water Varsity Match against Cambridge University.
However, upon arrival at 4:30am to The Thames it was very difficult to see the water due to an extremely thick layer of fog, so the team were told the start of the race would be delayed and put their feet up for an hour.
Desperate to make the early start worthwhile and actually get into the water, the team were relieved when the organisers of the Selkie Henley Classic said it was safe for the race to go ahead on a shortened 1.2km stretch of the river.
The water temperature was a toasty 19.4 degrees and the team realised the coldest part of the morning would not be the swim, but in fact the walk back afterwards so piled their puffers and towels into the bags of the few supporters that came along to watch.
The race started shortly before 6am, and the 8 swimmers from Oxford (4 male, 4 female) battled not only the team from Cambridge, but in the words of Max Anderson Loake, a series of “human speed bumps” for the stretch of the Thames. This was no trouble for the Oxford swimmers with their cumulative time being just short of 30 minutes faster than the Cambridge time.
Special mentions go to Max Anderson Loake for winning the Men’s Open non-wetsuit race in a time of 18:47 and Jackson Spry for second place in a time of 20:09. Equally in the women’s category, Deryn Cressey-Rogers managed to stop talking for 20 minutes and 22 seconds to top the podium and Sophie Lawrence took silver in 20:58.
Congratulations to all swimmers who took part, Oxford definitely won the race not only on swimming ability, but also on good vibes and team volume at 5am (credit can go to one swimmer there!!)
Another special mention goes to Lara Reed, as this is her 9th (and last) Varsity Match for Oxford, and her 9th win for Oxford!! What a good way to end a degree!!
